CHAPTER VIII. 



STOCKING THE AVIARY. 



\\ J-: now come to the important question of stocking 

 our aviary, Some years ago I had one which I used in 

 the summer months solely for the purpose of breeding 

 Canaries, and I have no doubt some of my readers will 

 be inclined to, do the same. There is considerably less 

 trouble in this than in pairing the birds up separately 

 in cages. Such an aviary is a constant source of 

 interest and amusement to the family and one's friends, 

 and if we have any artistic taste, " and decorate the 

 interior to give a semblance of rusticity, we shall our- 

 selves watch with delight the building of the nest, 

 the patient sitting of the hen, the rearing of the young, 

 and the first blundering effort of the boldest to venture 

 out of the nest and discover for itself the wonders of 

 the big outside world. 



The holding capacity of an aviary can be roughly 

 gauged for our purpose, by taking the square of the 

 floor, and allowing one bird to each foot. Thus with 

 an aviary measuring six feet long by four feet broad, 

 if we multiply one bv the other we arrive at twenty-four, 

 which would give us about the number of birds the 

 place will conveniently hold. But it is always advisable 

 to keep the building understocked rather than crowded. 

 Then, again, if we decide to use it for the purpose of 

 breeding, we must even further reduce the number of 

 inmates, for nothing is more likely to defeat our plans 

 and expectations than having too many birds in the 

 flight. In the spring of the year all birds, no matter 

 the age or sex, are quarrelsome, and ready to upset the 

 harmony of the place, so that any crowding at that time 

 is likely to cause trouble ; further than this, one has to 

 look ahead and remember that the young, even after 

 they leave the nest, must be allowed to remain for some 

 time with the parents, and these will consequently go 

 to swell the number. 



