FOREIGN BIRD KEEPING IN AVIARIES. 



By WESLEY T. PAGE, F.Z.S., &c. 



(Reprinted from CAGE BIRDS.) 



THE photographs which illustrate this article need 

 amplifying but little with accompanying letterpress, the 

 chief difficulty being that it was not possible to get an 

 entire view in one photograph ; nevertheless, a fair idea 

 of the whole may be gathered from the two. 



COST AND CONSTRUCTION. 



It has been erected by myself, and covers an area of 

 23 ft. by 10 ft. It is 16 ft. high, and has a lean-to shed, 

 10 ft. by 4 ft. (see ground-plan), and is placed in, the 

 centre of the back garden. The shed is open entirely at 

 front, save for two n-in. boards, placed equidistant, 

 which will be referred to again. It is also open at either 

 end for a space of 12 inches from the ground, so that the 

 birds can fly right through it. 



I may say that, but for my neighbour's rights in 

 the way of "ancient lights," the shed would have been 

 extended right along the back, and it would have been 

 at least 2 ft. higher. But as it is, it answers its purpose 

 admirably, and has been to me, both in summer and 

 winter, a continuous source of pleasure and interest. 

 It cost me for material, that is, wood, nails, J-in. netting, 

 paint, etc., as near as I can figure it up, ^"5; as already 

 intimated, the labour I supplied myself. 



The shed is of match-boarding and 2-in. square 

 quartering. The roof is covered with felt, and slopes 

 into the aviary, but is blocked out, so that the birds 

 cannot get on top of it, as in that position they would 

 be at the mercy of the cats with which, unfortunately, 

 the neighbourhood abounds. I may say I attempted 

 no fancy design, my only object being to enclose the 

 space in as unobstrusive a manner as possible. To bring 



