FOREIGN BIRD KEEPING IN A VI ARIES. 



99 



Of course, where such a mixture is tried, there must 

 be no attempt at crowding. In the aviary herein des- 

 cribed is hygienic accommodation for 150 birds at least, 

 but I seldom keep more than fifty in the same, and I 

 must emphatically state that were one to attempt to keep 

 a hundred it would almost certainly lead to disaster. 



STRICT CLEANLINESS. 



This consists of a periodical turning over of the soil 

 of the jungle portion, the renewal of branches which 

 have become foul, a weekly raking over of the sand bed 

 and all hard surfaces, and the scraping up of the remains 

 of grit. It is a most unsafe practice to sift grit, etc., 

 and use it over again. It is false economy, also unsani- 

 tary, and yet many adopt this plan. The practice is 

 responsible for many deaths, I am assured. 



At the regular cleaning day, let all surface material, 

 grit, etc., be cleared out and thrown away except only 

 in the case of fouled seed, which can be sown and will 

 produce green^ food. The shed should have an annual 

 distempering. 



Of course, if space could be spared, the aviary 

 described would be much improved by having a 

 shed (closed around) attached, one side of which should 

 be all glass, save for the bottom eighteen inches of same. 

 By this means the more delicate foreigners could be 

 kept, and shut inside during exceptionally severe 

 weather, or only let out for a fly at mid-day. 



A Lean-to Shed, Open at F'ront. 



C Gravel Path. D Glazed Sink as Bat 



BB Jungle of Weeds and Bushes. 

 3 Bath. K Kntrauce Door. 



