270 INHABITANTS OF THE AVIARY. 



the temperature is not raised during the summer, nor too 

 high during the colder season, as this would make them 

 delicate, and probably short-lived. 



Very pretty drawing-room aviaries may be made or pur- 

 chased, calculated to hold about a dozen birds. The frame 

 may be of metal or mahogany, upon a stand of either 

 material, and it may be in combination with an aquarium, 

 or a fern- case, or both, producing a very beautiful effect. 



Large cages of this sort are sometimes made with a 

 globe for gold-fish on the top, and vases at the corners for 

 flowers, the effect of which is very beautiful. 



INHABITANTS OF THE AVIARY. 



Most of our common Song-birds will do well in the 

 aviary. They are all seed eaters, and are therefore more 

 cleanly birds than those which require animal food ; they 

 are, too, more hardy than the insect feeders, among 

 which are the migratory species, the most difficult to rear 

 and keep of any. Blackbirds and Thrushes require berries 

 and worms, and are apt to be quarrelsome, therefore are 

 not very desirable inmates of the aviary, from which the 

 Starling also had better be excluded. The Robin, uni- 

 versal a favourite as he is, must by no means be admitted 

 among the sweet and peaceable songsters, being far too 

 pugnacious for such society. The Common and Golden- 

 crested Wrens may find a place there : they are pretty and 

 sprightly birds, and the Wagtails, pied and yellow, although 

 they have no song, will add to the beauty and variety of 

 the scene. They require plenty of water, and will most 

 commonly be seen by the fountains, or largest reservoir, 

 especially if there be small fish or aquatic insects, which 

 they catch as they hover over it. The Whinchat is a bold 

 and noisy bird, with not much song of his own, but a good 

 power of imitating those which he may hear, and its con- 

 gener the Stonechat, or Wheatear, is a handsome and easily 

 managed bird for the aviary. But by no means must any 

 of the Tits be admitted. They are the most murderous 

 little wretches in existence, having a singular penchant 

 for the brains of other birds, to indulge which they will 



