8 Aviary Pheasants. 



it throws off the wet, and is also evergreen, so that 

 the aviary looks well all the year round. 



Perches are best made out of deal quartering, 2in. 

 by 2in., with the edges run off ; this does not split. 

 Oak and ash poles split, and the birds lose their claws 

 in them. Pheasants generally select the highest perch 

 to roost on, but they prefer a very wide board or cill 

 probably it is less fatiguing than a perch. Between 

 the aviaries have doors rising and falling in grooves, 

 such as is usual in fowl-houses. These you should be 

 able to raise with a string outside, and, if you have 

 one empty aviary, you can in turn change all your 

 birds, and clean all the aviaries without disturbing 

 them. This is a decided advantage. You may plant 

 shrubs if you like, but then, of course, you cannot 

 have concrete floors. There must be plenty of dry, 

 fine sand in a corner for the dust-bath, and old mortar 

 where the birds lay. 



Nothing tends more to the healthfulness of the 

 birds than changing their aviaries and cleaning them 

 out, well raking the surface, and adding a little fine 

 gravel or coarse sand. If your floors are not of con- 

 crete, you must dig them up roughly, add a little 

 lime, and let the aviaries lie empty awhile. 



Erect as many aviaries as you require, all in a row, 

 and let them face south-east to south, if possible. 



Do not fear that the birds will die of exposure. I 

 have had 5ft. of snow in the aviaries, and the ther- 

 mometer 3 below zero, and never lost a bird. 

 Most of my pheasants come from cold countries, and 



