CHAPTER VII. 



ENTERING AND CLEANING. 



Wherever we house our captive birds, whether it be in 

 bird-room, cage, or aviary, we must keep them 

 thoroughly clean, or we may in time reap a bad harvest 

 of our own sowing. Aviary birds have more floor-space 

 than those in cages, consequently it is hardly necessary 

 to clean them out quite so often ; but at the" same time 

 we must not neglect them. If fitted with a flap at the 

 bottom, as advised in the simple aviary described in 

 Chapter III, we shall have no trouble, with a wooden 

 rake fitted with a long handle, in managing it. But if 

 w r e are obliged to enter the building some arrangement 

 must be made to prevent the escape of any of the inmates. 

 In a large flight it is not a difficult matter to slip 

 inside without any mishap ; for this purpose the door 

 should be a low one, as birds invariably fly high when 

 disturbed. Or we can fit a wire lobby, either to the 

 inside or outside of the flight; by this means we enter 

 by one door into the lobby, close it, and enter by the 

 other into the flight. 



Where \ve have not the room for either of these 

 arrangements, we must manage as depicted in the 

 page photographic illustration. 'There is shown an 

 attendant about to enter a small aviary, a companion 

 holding a sheet up ready to cover his entrance; the next 

 depicts the sheet entirely covering him while he. opens 

 the door and enters the" building. If it is not always 

 possible to have a companion to help, it is a good plan 

 to hang up the sheet over the door by means of rings 

 and hooks. Many a bird may be saved by adopting 

 this method. 



To CIRCUMVENT CATS. 



One of the worst troubles we have to contend with 

 in an outdoor aviary is the unwelcome attention of our 

 neighbour's cat or cats. Undoubtedly the very best 

 remedy is a good sharp terrier. Pussy soon learns 

 where danger lurks and gives such gardens a wide berth 

 In some districts cats are exceedingly plentiful, and one 

 has to be always on guard against them. In such cases 



