AVIARIES, BIRD-ROOMS AND CAGES. 55 



two sides to a building intended for the home of high- 

 class birds, for we must put it together as though we 

 were going to live in it ourselves; it must be warm and 

 free from draughts, but at the same time light and well 

 ventilated. 



In fixing upon the size of our building we must be 

 guided by our pocket, our time, and the number of birds 

 we intend to keep in it. The smallest bird-house that 

 I ever knew was about 5 feet by 3 feet, and although 

 the fancier had considerable success in it, there was 

 scarcely room for himself inside, and he always appeared 

 to be much too close to the birds. Still, he did well, 

 for it was a cosy, well built little place. He managed to 

 put up 8 pairs in it, taking the young ones to another 

 building as soon as they could feed themselves. His 

 cages were simply shelves with fronts fitted, and were 

 taken down in the winter, when two sets of frames with 

 wire nettmg made two good flights for cocks and hens. 



A CONVENIENT SIZE. 



A convenient size for a bird-house is six feet by four 

 feet; also six feet by five feet, or six feet square. In either 

 of these one could put up a dozen to fifteen pairs, and 

 still leave room, for a good sized flight. The building 

 should be constructed of fin. match-board, nailed on to 

 a framework of two inch quartering; or use wood 

 measuring two inches by three inches. It should also 

 be lined with match-board inside, for extra warmth 

 having either roofing felt or stout brown paper in 

 between. This should be tacked up before the lining 

 is fixed. Some fill the space with sawdust, thus form- 

 ing a solid wall all round the building, but if it is 

 soundly made, a dead air space between answers the 

 purpose equally as well one might find a difficulty, 

 too, in procuring the quantity of sawdust required. 



