Aviary Cage. 115 



16. "When also the English birds are sometimes 

 bought very wild, or when the poor little Warblers are 

 to be kept in autumn, cages lined with something soft 

 may save pain. I mention it because, if it is to be 

 done, it may as well be done gently ; but when a 

 newly-bought bird beats wildly against the bars, or 

 when a soft -billed bird in autumn dashes against 

 its cage in the vain attempt to burst its wire prison, 

 let those who keep it know that it is for its liberty it 

 is almost dying. 



CHAPTER XIV. 



AVIARY CAGE. 



1. IN describing an aviary cage, I think it will bo 

 well to record the fashion of one that was made for 

 me when I was a very little child, and which lasted an 

 immense time. During the time that it was in use, 

 a few improvements were thought of, and these have 

 been embodied in making the cage I now quote as a 

 model. My original cage was of deal, being made .at 

 first as a mere experiment, and when found to answer 

 we would not discard it. I, indeed, formed an opinion 

 in favour of deal for bird cages, which has never been 

 in the least relinquished, and in which the birds 

 themselves certainly bear me out. 



82 



