CHAPTER IV. 



ON VARIOUS STYLES OF AVIARIES. 



The description previously given is only just that of 

 the simple aviary one that almost any handy bird- 

 keeper can construct for himself for the purpose of 

 housing a few birds. But many fanciers with plenty 

 of room, would possibly like to improve upon this, and 

 put up something more elaborate. Then, again, the 

 building we have described will not be suitable for even- 

 situation ; in cold bleak spots it will be necessary to give 

 the inmates more protection than such an aviary affords . 

 We must remember that although wild birds are con- 

 stantly exposed to the elements, they are always on the 

 move, and are not obliged to keep in any one position 

 for any length of time; neither do they, as a rule, roost 

 in very exposed places. 



Anyone who has taken the trouble to investigate 

 how our wild birds roost, will be well aware of this. 

 The ivy round the warmer side of the house, or growing 

 up the trunk of a stout old tree, or perhaps the ever- 

 greens in the shrubbery, form the chief roosting places 

 of our resident soft-bills. Then there are the farm 

 buildings and the snug corners round the hay ricks, 

 which are also tenanted by feathered lodgers on cold 

 or rough nights. So that unless our aviary is situated 

 in a snug part of the garden, and fairly well protected 

 by buildings or fences, we should by some means afford 

 our birds the opportunity to take shelter if they care to 

 do so. 



A building such as depicted in Fig. 15 is simple, 

 and yet quite effective. It will give protection from 

 rough winds, and must be warmer for the inmates than 

 one entirely open. It will be noticed that it is 

 practically a repetition of the building already described, 

 excepting that a portion of it is entirely boarded in. 

 As a place of this description would be rather dark 

 (which would prevent the birds making as much use of 



