30 The Canary Book. 



with ebony and satin-wood in various devices ; the front stay 

 or margin is likewise inlaid with a beading or cross-banding 

 of mahogany or other wood, and a draw-board is placed at 

 one end of the cage. The length of a cage of this sort may 

 be from 17in. to 18in., height 13in. to 14in. in the centre, and 

 from 7in. to 8in. wide. There is a door in the front fitted 

 with wooden bars top and bottom. There are four pillars, 

 one at each corner, extending about midway up the cage, 

 about three-eighths-of-an-inch square, and ornamented by 

 being cut with a sort of diamond pattern down the outer 

 edges ; a wooden bar of the same thickness extends round the 

 cage about an-inch-and-a-half below the top of these pillars, 

 as shown in the engraving. On the tops of the pillars are 

 bone ornaments, having a hole through them, and they slide 

 up and down the corner wires. There is a running wire door 

 at the end opposite the seed-drawer, in addition to the 

 ordinary door, so that the birds can be run in and out the 

 more readily. It is also used for hanging a nest upon, such 

 as is shown in the illustration: for Scotchmen are naturally 

 very economical, and when these cages become shabby or get 

 damaged they use them for breeding. They place them upon 

 shelves, and either put a wood partition between each cage OT 

 cover the ends with paper or calico, to prevent the birds fron 

 seeing each other as much as possible during the breeding, 

 season. The nests proper are made of leather and lined with 

 flannel; the leather is damped, and then fastened on to a 

 wooden block made for that purpose, of the exact size and 

 shape of the nests. The holes in the nest-boxes are bored 

 with a large ungainly-looking brace and bit, made specially for 

 the purpose, the latter being in form not much unlike a monster 

 claw ; it has a point in the centre, and is hollowed away in an 

 eccentric fashion, leaving another sharp point or edge which 

 cuts the piece out solid, like a wheel for a toy cart. The 

 feet of the cage are made of hard wood, stained black and 

 varnished. The nest-box is made of very thin deal, the top is 

 wdred and may be either solid or made to open like the door 

 of the cage in front; size of uest-box 6in. long, 5in. wide, 



