8 AVIARIES, BIRD-ROOMS AND CAGES. 



need rest and shade so that it is as well to afford them 

 the opportunity of this during the afternoon if it can 

 possibly be managed. 



THE IDEAL. 



The ideal situation would face south-east, and have 

 a fence, or building, to shelter the aviary from strong 

 west winds; birds dislike th^ wind and should be able 

 to get protection from it. Still, these conditions are 

 not an absolute necessity. .If .we can manage, three or 

 four hours of sunshine- during the day, this will be quite 

 sufficient, and by some means or other we -shall 'be able 

 to give the necessary shelter .from the wind and also the 

 rain which, as all know, generally comes from the 

 south-west. If we are obliged, to build our aviary with 

 the latter aspect, we can, by partly boarding up the front 

 and allowing a good overhang with the roof, improve 

 matters considerably. 



A cold situation, such as one facing north-east, 

 would mean disaster ; and one due south would not be 

 at all desirable -six or eight hours of fierce sunshine 

 during the hottest part of the clay in midsummer is too 

 much for birds and many die, directly or indirectly, 

 from heat stroke. But should one be so fortunate as to 

 command partial shade from. a tree, it would, of course, 

 be a different matter. 



SOME ESSENTIALS. 



A certain amount of sunshine, a free circulation of 

 air, and protection from wind and rain, must somehow 

 be compassed when choosing the situation, though these 

 conditions can to a certain extent be arranged when con- 

 structing the building. The following is an instance: 

 An aviary, mesuring six feet by five feet, was built in 

 the corner of a garden. But when constructed it was 

 found that the sun shone on the roof only, and did not 

 penetrate into the interior on account of a tall building 

 standing rather close to it. The ingenious fancier 

 easily overcame the difficulty by making work upon 

 hinges that part of the roof on which the sun pitched, 

 so that during fine weather he could turn this part back 

 and thus expose the interior to the full light through a 

 wire roof. 



