AVIAHIES, Kilt!) -ROOMS AND CAGES. 31 



Where soft-billed birds are allowed in an aviary, 

 the vessel containing the soft food should be placed 

 on a raised platform this prevents a great deal of waste 



Fig. 21. Hopper for Soft Food. 



and soiling of good food. Fig. 21 shows a feeding 

 trough made specially for an aviary devoted to soft-bill 

 birds. It is fastened to the inside of the building, and 

 has a small platform underneath, one and a half inches 

 from the front of trough. Beyond this is a stout perch, 

 so that the birds can stand and feed, and as they have 

 a habit of taking little pieces out of the feeding vessel, 

 part of which they invariably drop, the small platform 

 catches the latter and prevents waste. The wires in 

 front of the vessel allow the birds to get their heads 

 through, yet prevent their throwing the food about. A 

 small door in the woodwork of the aviary made to corres- 

 pond with the back of the feeder will enable the bird- 

 keeper to take the vessel out, refill and replace it without 

 in any way disturbing the birds. The upright wires 

 prevent any bird escaping through the^ aperture. Such 

 an arrangement would be useful for supplying hemp, 

 etc., to Finches. 



