Cages and Cage-making. 



7 



long in the prong. You can cut down an ordinary one to 

 the size required, and then file it until it is of an equal 

 thickness throughout ; the point should be made perfectly 

 round and sharp, and it should be as nearly as possible of the 

 same thickness as the wire you use, but if anything the 

 least shade thinner, so as to let, the wood grip the wire. The 

 wire can be forced up or down, whichever you require, with 

 the small pliers; this makes the wiring firmer. By using a 



FIG. 4. SPECIMENS OF WIRE OPENINGS FOR BIRDS TO GET AT THEIR 

 FOOD ANP WATER. 



pricker of the above description you will not, with ordinary 

 care, be likely to split the wood, and the principal advantage 

 to be gained by it is that all the holes will be of the same 

 depth, for it is intended to force it home to the handle each 

 time, so that after you fit one wire you can cut the remainder 



