CHAPTER I. 



ONE would think that by enclosing a given corner 

 of one's garden with wire netting and roofing it in, 

 this would be all that is required to make an outside 

 pliace fit to hold one's pets; in a sense this is so, but 

 experience teaches us that many little items are 

 necessary to make our building a source of pleasure and 

 convenience to ourselves, and of comfort to its inmates. 



The tools required for Aviary construction will be 

 found in most homes, and the greater part of the 

 materials can be bought ready prepared from any wood 

 yard, or builders' merchant. The prices I give are only 

 approximate, and they vary in different localities, but 

 they will be near enough to enable one to get a rough 

 idea as to the cost of the proposed building. In these 

 days the materials are practically only a secondary con- 

 sideration ; it is the price of labour that makes a building 

 so expensive, but most bird-keepers are handy with 

 tools, and thus can considerably reduce the cost, by 

 executing the work themselves. 



THE SITUATION CONSIDERED. 



Having decided that an outside aviary is to be built, 

 naturally the first thing to be considered is the situation. 

 In a matter of this kind it is impossible to lay down any 

 hard and fast rule, but a few hints will probably be 

 acceptable. To begin with, a certain amount of sun- 

 shine is essential to the well-being of the inmates, for 

 birds by nature are full of sunshine and joy no doubt 

 they will sing and be seemingly happy in cages hung 

 in the shade ; but it should be our aim to let them have 

 as much of the health-giving sunshine as is good for 

 them. The morning sun is to be preferred to that of 

 the afternoon. In the early hours, birds are bright and 

 cheerful, and are also on the move just before roosting; 

 but just after midday they are comparatively quiet, and 



