, VIUD-H.QQMS ASD CAGES. 85 



SHOW CAGKS CONSIDKRKI>. 



It is very doubtful whether it pays a Fancier to 

 construct his own show cages. There was a time when 

 it was impossible to get a cage, of any description made 

 strongly enough for use as the saying is, they were 

 " made to sell." But now things are somewhat altered, 

 we can purchase them quite as strong as -we can make 

 them, and considerably lighter. -The makers buy the 

 wood in. large quantities, and are able to select the 

 lightest specially for show: cages. 



If the Fancier decides to make his own, he must use 

 the best and cleanest wood he can get (the knots in wood 

 are heavy) and it should not be more than a quarter of 

 an inch thick. These cages should be made strongly 

 and well, in fact one should put his best work into them. 



The dimensions of the ordinary Norwich show-cage 

 are. as follows: Thirteen inches long, twelve inches 

 highland four and three-quarters from front to back* 

 For Norwich Canaries, Hybrids, Goldfinches, Linnets, 

 Siskins, and Redpolls, these cages are quite suitable; 

 but for the other Finches, and, perhaps, the larger 

 Hybrids, they should be made slightly deeper from 

 back to front about another inch makes a considerable 

 difference. In making these cages the small oval- 

 headed brads should be used in preference to any others; 

 they hold very tightly and hardly show, especially if 

 a little black putty is put into the holes before painting. 



Show 7 cages for British Birds should be in most 

 cases a replica of 'their stock cages, except that they need 

 not be so large; and should be made as light as possi- 

 ble, and as strong. The food and water vessels are best 

 placed inside as hoppers, as tins are so liable to be 

 lost in transit to and from the shows. 



ADVICE TO EXHIBITORS. 



In all cases the exhibitor should carefully think 

 out the kind of cage most likely to show his bird off 

 to the best advantage. He should take into consideration 

 the natural habits of the specimen, and act accordingly. 

 For instance, it would be useless exhibiting a Wood- 

 pecker in a perching bird's cage, or a Lark in one with 

 the back covered with Virginia cork a cage suitable for 

 a Tree Creeper. A little care in this direction is a hint 



