Cages and Cage-making. 17 



reach their food and water easily. Two other perches must 

 be placed about the centre of the cage, on each side of the 

 door, as shown in Fig. 3. Fix a half -inch screw in the centre 

 of the cage, and another in the centre of the end opposite 

 to the one containing the egg-drawer, to hang the nests on, 

 about 4in. above the perches, or one at each side of the 

 perch. Sometimes tin troughs are used instead of drawers for 

 eggs, &c. ; but you are apt to frighten the birds, and espe- 

 cially the young ones, when about to fledge, by having to put 

 your hand inside the cage to place them in and take them 

 out. It is a clumsy contrivance, therefore avoid it. Put a neat 

 half-round beading about three-eighths-of-an-inch in thick- 

 ness round the extreme edge of the draw-board. This pre- 

 vents the sand from slipping off it, and makes a more 

 substantial job; but be sure to put it well and firmly on, so 

 as not to leave a crevice; or you can simply use the front 

 lath only as a dummy draw-board, fixed to the cage with a 

 wire pin put through it from the bottom; this is a more 

 simple contrivance, and answers quite well. Wire the front 

 with tinned wire No. 17. For the cross-bars use No. 13, and 

 bind them with tin, brass, or copper binding- wire that 

 is, wire as fine as thread ; copper binding is more durable, 

 and does not cost more than the brass ; it is about 2s. per 

 pound. For No. 13 wire I pay 7d. per pound, and for No. 17 

 Id. more. 



In making a sliding wire door you will require two upright 

 wires for the door to run upon. I have left the door in the 

 drawing of cage Fig. 3 partly open, and have shown the form 

 of it so plainly that it would be superfluous for me to do 

 more than call attention to it ; a close examination of the 

 engraving will enable anyone to see how it is constructed and 

 the principle upon which it works. I prefer doors of this kind 

 to all others, for if they are properly made and oiled 

 occasionally they ought to close themselves ; another advantage 

 is that they cannot by any possibility be opened by the birds, 

 so there is no danger of their getting out and being lost (see 

 also Fig. 5). 



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