CHAPTER XII. 



METHOD OF CONSTRUCTION. 



WE will assume then that we have decided to make our 

 bird-house six feet long, six feet wide, and six feet high 

 in front, rising to seven feet six inches at the back. 

 We shall build it in a corner of the garden, with a 

 sound wall at the back and at one side. We must be 

 careful to purchase our wood in the best lengths for 

 cutting purposes. We shall require about six six-feet 

 lengths of timber, two inches by two inches thick (or 

 two bv three whichever we decide to use) ; four 

 four-feet-six inch lengths; one, seven-feet-six-inch 

 length ; one, seven-feet length ; as well as one or two 

 shorter lengths. So that if we purchase one fifteen- 

 feet, three twelve-feet, and three nine-feet lengths we 

 shall have quite sufficient for the framework. 



For the boarding, both inside and out, we shall 

 r/equire about one square and a half of matchboard, 

 which will be sufficient to cover one hundred and fifty 

 square feet. This we had better purchase in twelve feet 

 lengths, and at the same time get twelve feet of sash- 

 bar for the window. If we decide to tile the roof, we 

 shall require seven twelve-feet lengths of four-inch 

 feather-edge boards, one hundred and twenty ordinary 

 tiles, and seven of the tile-and-a-half. 



Now we have pro- 

 cured the wood, the 

 first thing to do is to 

 make the framework 

 for the front of the 

 building. We saw off 

 the quartering the re- 

 quired lengths, that is, 

 five six-feets. Two of 

 these will be for the 

 uprights, and three of 

 them for cross-bars. 

 We shall proceed 



Fig. 29. Framework of Outdoor 

 Bird-room. 



