Breeding in Aviaries. 81 



Some old pounded mortar in the cage is essential, 

 iind a rusty nail in the water glass. Plenty of chick- 

 'weed, too, is a great advantage. 



Where egg is given, I should much recommend its 

 l>eing finely pounded, and mixed with the grated bread. 

 Only a small quantity should be given at a time, and 

 it should never be left to get sour in the cage. 



21. Cleaning a breeding- cage is an immense diffi- 

 culty. It is a veiy good plan to cover the floor 

 Jhickli/ at first with sand, and then, if absolutely 

 necessary, the top may be raked off ; having what the 

 cage-makers call a slide is, for this, an advantage, 

 even above a drawer. Drawers are open to the very 

 grave objection that they afford so convenient a har- 

 l)our in which insects may lodge. But when slide 

 cages are used in common, there should be a spare 

 one, that they may be well cleaned by turns. 



22. It is desirable to have a small cage hooked on to 

 contain seed and water. There is generally a small 

 door whereon it can be hung, and it makes a wonder- 

 fully great difference in the neatness of the cage. 

 These suggestions must not be despised because they 

 seem so trivial, for when any one tries to keep a cage 

 both clean and quiet for five weeks, it will be found 

 to be no such easy task. 



23. In cages it is also a good plan to put a few 

 soft little sprays of foliage into the building-place in 

 which the nest is to be ; the little yellow head, with its 



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