52 CANARIES AND CAGE-BIRDS. 



THE INDOOR AVIARY. 



The indoor aviary should have u warm aspect, aud be well protected from 

 draughts ; and if it is a conservatory, or similar glass erection, it must be well shaded 

 from the strong sunlight, aud protected, as far as possible, from all extremes. The 

 bird-keeper should remember, that, under a more pampered system, the birds will lead 

 a more artificial existence, and be more liable to feel the injurious effects of external 

 influences. The most important consideration of all is, to effect a thorough ventila- 

 tion, with a complete exclusion of draughts ; for draughts cause the deaths of more 

 Canaries than many people imagine. Too much attention cannot be paid to this, 

 and our instructions on this point are most emphatic. 



Having selected a suitable room, proceed to furnish it by placing in it a number 

 of "Christmas-trees," small firs of different sizes, which, if obtained at a nurseiy. 

 can be moved in the autumn, and will, if carefully raised and well potted, live the 

 year through, by which time they will be about done for. In selecting the trees, 

 choose substantial plants with flat, spreading branches, and arrange them tastefully 

 on such stands as can be extemporized for the purpose, singly or in clumps, filling 

 up corners, arranging them, in fact, in any way and every way. in doing which there 

 is scope for the exercise of much taste. Avoid, however, placing them so that any 

 part of the room cannot be got at if desired ; for old birds as well as young are apt 

 to flutter away into inaccessible corners, and make no effort to release themselves 

 from positions not dangerous in themselves, but from which they seem to think 

 escape hopeless. 



In addition to the trees or shrubs, a few fantastically shaped branches (from 

 which all loose bark must be removed, so insects may have no breeding-place) may 

 be arranged in rustic fashion ; and any old gnarled stumps or- roots may be utilized 

 in a similar way. The branches are not intended for nesting-places, but only as 

 perches. Nothing is more out of character in a room such as we are describing than 

 long, straight perches ; but a substitute must be provided. Canaries are not always 

 on the wing, but will not often visit the floor except to feed, or on other matters of 

 business. The trees themselves are not suitable for perching on, unless they should 

 have fairly substantial branches ; and, therefore, some comfortable resting-places 

 must be provided. The birds will soon find these out for themselves ; and the object 

 of using the branches we refer to is, that the whole may look as natural and attrac- 

 tive as possible. If, in place of such an arrangement, one or more long perches be 

 used, the result will be, that the birds will generally be seen sitting in a row, in not 

 very picturesque fashion, on the topmost bar, to which the} 7 will always immediately 

 retreat when any one enters the room. To obviate this, all natural ledges, such as 

 the tops of architraves over doors and windows, must be rendered untenable, and 

 more tempting places offered. The birds will most certainly please themselves in 

 their selection of resting-places ; and the thing is, to make their choice comfortable 

 for them, and pleasing to our own taste. It takes a great man} T birds to fill a small 

 room, and a place may appear tenantless while a score or two of birds are perched up 

 aloft somewhere out of sight. Virgin cork, in various shapes, may also be used : but 

 a strict watch must be kept for insects : and, upon their appearance, the pieces infested 



