HIS PRIVATE APARTMENT 43 



cage in large sizes is made of iron wire, with 

 suitable tray, and the whole painted, the up- 

 right wires one color, and the tin stays, of 

 which there are three or four according to size, 

 in a contrasting color. The best, and the most 

 becoming to birds of whatever hue, is white 

 for the upright wires, and some dark color for 

 the stays and corner posts. 



This cage has a wire bottom, which, when 

 the tray and perches are removed, acts like a 

 door with a hinge, and may be shut up within 

 the cage. This arrangement makes it possible 

 to pack the cages (which are made in three or 

 four slightly differing sizes) in nests, which is a 

 great convenience in putting them way. At 

 the same time the wire bottom is a safeguard 

 when the tray is removed to be cleaned. In 

 every way I have found these cages most con- 

 venient. 



The size is the next consideration. Dealers 

 will tell you that to make a bird sing he must 

 have a small cage. I have in my own house 

 proved this to be a mistake. I never have a 

 small one, and my birds sing as much as any 

 one could desire. I should never put a bird, 

 who was not to be let out every day, into a 



