CHAPTER X. 



POINTS ABOUT THE BIRD ROOM. 



IF possible, the Canary breeder should, as before noted, 

 have a room set apart specially for his hobby. During 

 the breeding season birds require to be kept quiet, and 

 to be disturbed as little as possible. These conditions 

 cannot be obtained in an ordinary living room or 

 kitchen. I know many fanciers have done well with a 

 pair or two in such rooms, yet there is a good deal of 

 difference between a pair or so which have the best 

 position in the room, and, say, half a dozen spread 

 about anywhere. Where a man is an enthusiast over 

 his hobby, he will manage somehow to secure a spare 

 room, cupboard, or attic for his birds. 



AN UNDESIRABLE SITUATION. 



We will suppose we have the choice of one room 

 on the first floor for our birds. The questions of suita- 

 bility and aspect are what we have to think over and 

 decide. Our house, we will say, stands by itself, and 

 we have the choice of one of the rooms on the first floor 

 first floor, because nine times out of ten it is an up- 

 stair room which can be spared. The windows of our 

 rooms face respectively north, south, east, and west. 

 The north aspect we can write off at once as being quite 

 unsuitable. The room would be cold, sunless, and lack- 

 ing in light on dull days; the birds would not commence 

 to feed nearly so early in the morning, nor would they 

 continue so late in the evening, as they would under 

 other aspects. Of course, if a north room is the only 

 one available for the purpose, we shall have to make the 

 best 'of it. But although birds would live in it, and 

 possibly thrive, it is very doubtful whether it would be 

 possible to build up a strong healthy strain in such a 

 position and it is every fancier's ambition to have a 

 strain of his own. He does not want to be continually 

 purchasing fresh stock to put stamina into his birds. 



