iS AVIARIES, BIRD-ROOMS ASD CAGES. 



and prevent water running through the cracks; see Fig. 

 12. 



It is possible ithat many bird-keepers would like 

 something less expensive and more easy to fix. In that 

 case, the feather-edge board can be nailed on in the 

 usual way (i.e., with the thick edge downwards) or the 

 roof can be roughly boarded and covered with felt. If 

 the latter is decided upon, the felt will require to be well 

 tarred and sanded. The material for this purpose may 

 be obtained from most oil and colourmen. The tar 

 should be made quite hot before using, and as it cools 

 must be reheated. This can be conveniently done over 

 a small fire in the garden. Do not be sparing with the 

 sand, which must be thrown on while the tar is wet. A 

 roof that is to be tarred should not slope so much as 

 one tiled, or boarded, because in the hot summer the 

 tar melts through the heat, and, running down the slop- 

 ing roof drips from the eaves, making a mess in the 

 front of the building. 



Whichever covering be decided upon, we must not 

 forget to make it fall over about three inches in front, 

 and the same at the side. This aids materially in keep- 

 ing the floor of the aviary dry during a long spell of 

 wet weather. 



How TO LAY THE FLOOR. 



Before proceeding further with our building, we 

 had better attend to the floor. In a small aviary it is 

 impossible to have anything in the way of decorative 

 effect; we have not the room for grass plots or shrubs 

 and fountains. Our floor must be hard and sound, so 

 that we can periodically clean it out thoroughly, for it 

 is just possible we shall at times overcrowd it with birds, 

 in spite of all good resolutions to the contrary. 



When laying the floor it is a good plan to have a 

 gentle slope from back to front, for in bad weather the 

 wet is sure to drive into it and saturate the bottom. A 

 dead level floor would retain the moisture and be some 

 time drying on account of being partially protected from 

 the wind. By giving a slope of only half an inch to the 

 foot we shall be able to drain it, and it will consequently 

 dry much more quickly, much to the benefit of the birds. 



