26 Song Birds. 



dress themselves so busily ; and then I always 

 fancy that they like to see flowers ; and we are not 

 the losers if this is indeed the case, for neither 

 birds or flowers ever look half so pretty as when 

 they are mixed together. I may mention here that 

 many of my own smaller cages are often hung in a 

 plant case. 



Cold is one of the greatest dangers cage -birds 

 have to be guarded from. In an aviary there are 

 more birds together, who keep one another warm, 

 and they are not necessarily so near to the wires, 

 which are said to absorb a great deal of heat. 



Besides giving them every chance of a little sun- 

 shine, they should be protected carefully from the 

 draught of open windows ; even in the summer time 

 the cage should never stand directly in a draught. 

 Hot sunshine is another extreme to avoid. People 

 are apt to leave a room with the sun just coming on 

 a cage, and to forget that long before they return 

 it will shine with all its force on the poor little bird. 



4. Frights of any sort are also to be avoided. 

 Lightning and thunder often kill delicate birds, 

 especially if the blinds are up, and if they are left 

 alone. It is always safer during storms to cover 

 up the cages, especially when the latter are of an 

 open kind. 



5. When cages are kept in a room it is best to 

 make a point of each being cleaned out daily, if the 



