CHAPTER II. 



THE MATERIALS DESCRIBED. 



UNLESS our building is of an extraordinary size, 

 we shall not require heavy timber for its construction. 

 What is known in the trade as two-inch quartering will 

 be heavy enough for any span not exceeding six feet in 

 length, that is, providing we already have two sides 

 (namely a corner to build in); failing this it will be as 

 well to use for the main uprights wood measuring two 

 inches by three in thickness. Both can be bought ready 

 prepared in lengths of from six feet to twelve or four- 

 teen feet. When bought prepared, i.e., planed ready 

 for use the measurements are not quite the same as 

 regards thickness, as a certain portion is, of course, 

 taken off in the planing. 



THE FRONT, THE FLOOR, AND THE ROOF. 



We shall no doubt decide to board up a certain 

 portion of our aviary. This can be done with $/& in. 

 match board; anything thinner would be useless, and if 

 thicker would be clumsy. It is false economy to use 

 anything larger than j in. mesh wire netting, although 

 quite true it is many birds could not get through f in., 

 yet then there is always the danger of a strand getting 

 broken or a bird clawed by a prowling cat. 



The floor can either be paved with bricks or tiles, 

 cemented with Portland cement and sand (three of sand 

 to one of cement) or the earth be beaten down firmly 

 and covered with two or three inches of builders' sand. 

 In whatever way it is treated it must first be made level, 

 and rammed down hard and firm. 



