AVIARIES, BIRD-EOOMS AND CAGES. 35 



it is necessary to do something to prevent their getting 

 too close to the wires. If when making our aviary we 

 board up say about two feet or two feet six inches at 

 the front, cats have to spring before getting near the 

 birds, and are unable to get a proper foothold. They 

 do not do much damage then beyond frightening the 

 inmates, and perhaps spoiling their plumage. Cats are 

 intelligent anim'als, and soon get to know the exact 

 possibilities of the venture, and after a few attempts give 

 up the game. But where strange cats are constantly 

 about, it is wise to put up some other guard. A frame- 

 work of wire netting some six inches away from the 

 aviary will be an effectual arrangement; the wire need 

 not be less than one inch mesh. 



When stocking a new 7 aviary it is a good plan to 

 commence by putting in two or three common birds, 

 the first night there will be trouble round the building; 

 all the cats in the district w r ill visit it, each in its turn 

 " having a, go " at the inmates. After a few such 

 attempts thev will give it up, and you may then put in 

 youn. more (Valuable birjds. Cats should nevelr be 

 allowed in close proximity to the wires of the aviary, 

 or they will sit for hours watching the inmates until 

 some unlucky bird gets too close (or is frightened to 

 such an extent that he dashes madlv about) and so has 

 to pay the penalty. A cat will manage to claw a poor 

 luckless bird through the very smallest wire, so it is not 

 wise to consider a small mesh a certain safeguard. 

 Occasionally we get a visit from some highly respect- 

 able grimalkin who comes to see us for the sake of 

 helping us to clear off our surplus stock of mice; a 

 moment's watching will tell us if this is so or not. Such 

 cats should be encouraged because as a rule they are 

 fonder of mice than birds. 



MICE A GREAT NUISANCE. 



Mice are a great nuisance, eating our seeds an'd, 

 worst of all, fouling more than they eat birds have 

 been known to starve sooner than partake of food con- 

 laminated by these little pests. Unfortunately they 

 are fonder of canary seed than anything else; conse- 

 quently 'we do not stand much chance in baiting traps 

 with it. At the same time, if carefully done, many can 



