136 OUR HOME PETS 



The floor of an aviary must be thickly spread 

 with fine gravel or sand, which should be brush- 

 ed out and changed as often as every fortnight, 

 and the floor washed. The lady who had a 

 room given up to birds, which I have already 

 referred to, bought her gravel or coarse sand 

 by the barrel, as well as her bird-seed. 



Cleanliness and frequent washing of dishes 

 and scalding of perches are just as important 

 in an aviary as in a bird-room ; and since the 

 birds cannot be covered up individually, the 

 room must be kept at a nearly even temper- 

 ature. 



If a bird is ill he must be instantly removed 

 from the rest, and kept in a cage till well, both 

 that he may have quiet, medicine, and proper 

 food, and that he may not infect the rest, as in 

 some disorders he would by drinking from the 

 common cups. If the stock is all of one kind, 

 and it is desired that they shall nest, proper 

 places must be prepared ; little baskets, such 

 as come for cage nesting, may be fastened up 

 in quiet nooks, and material suitable for lining 

 placed within reach. 



When the young are able to be fed, food 

 proper for them must be kept ready. Direc- 



