134 Song Binls. 



in the chapter referring to them are all that is 

 required in the way of furniture ; they should be 

 fixed against the side walls, a little door giving ready 

 access to them. The floor being formed of tiles or 

 stone, and the walls also being solid, there is every 

 reason to hope that further precautions against mice 

 and rats will be quite unnecessaiy. Their presence 

 certainly should be guarded against with every care 

 imaginable. If in an aviary of this kind a group of 

 firs especially the spruce firs are gathered in each 

 corner, with one or two oranges and myrtles in the 

 centre, there will be fair hiding-places, and it may be 

 hoped that the birds will build. 



4. Keeping here a dozen English Finches, Linnets, 

 and Siskins, with a dozen pair of Canaries, and a 

 dozen Canaiy hens, the probabilities are that the 

 morning melody will be gay enough. A pair of 

 Nightingales, not more than one (as they are jealous 

 birds, and the worst singer gets sulky), one or two 

 Blackcaps, some Willow Wrens and Garden Warblers, 

 with perhaps a W T oodlark, would make a very 

 delightful concert. Even the Nightingales will some- 

 times build in a quiet aviary ; and in a division 

 made against the house wall, especially if slightly 

 shaded by climbing plants, it is very likely they might 

 be induced to do so. 



The Wrens also may. if they are very tame, build 

 in an ivied wall in such an aviary, and a lovely little 



