12 The mianj. 



palace than were they with the vision of this palatial 

 residence for their dickies. The long-drawn lines of 

 the brightly-tinned wire shining in the morning sun, 

 contrasting: in stronsf relief with the dark iron stanchions 

 to which the wire was bound, gave a charm and airy 

 lightness to the wdiole, which exceeded the utmost 

 bounds of their conception. They at once expressed 

 intense satisfaction and delight at this happy realisation 

 of their wishes, which thus formed a handsome, spacious, 

 and useful aviary, at a very trifling cost, fit for the 

 habitation of the very choicest specimens of canary 

 land. 



To transfer the birds to their new habitation, and 

 see how they would look, was but the work of a few 

 minutes ; and the only regret was we had not another 

 above it. This, we all thought, would not only be ex- 

 tremely useful for the birds, but greatly improve the 

 appearance of the whole. As it would only require 

 another shelf, and a piece of wirewoik similar to the 

 other, we decided at once to double the size of our 

 aviary, which accordingly was soon done. 



As all would clearly have to be taken down and re- 

 arranged, we think it would decidedly add to the beauty 

 of the wliole, if in place of the dark claret-coloured 

 paper with which the wall at the back was then covered, 

 a light blue marble-coloured paper was substituted in- 

 stead. This we thought w^ould certainly contrast better 

 with, and set off to greater advantage, the yellow 

 plumage of the birds, as well as make it more cheerful 

 and light. Accordingly, having procured the necessary 

 paper, to my other accomplishments I add that of paper- 



