CHAPTER VIII. 



MANAGEMENT OF CAPTIVE BIRDS. 



AVIARIES. 



THE best place in which to keep and study birds is 

 undoubtedly a garden aviary. In such a building they 

 seem very contented and happy, live long and frequently 

 breed, and give very little trouble ; daily attention to the 

 feeding and a weekly cleaning being all that is absolutely 

 required. 



Such an aviary should consist of two portions 

 a perfectly sheltered house, where the birds can be secure 

 from hot sun, rain, and driving wind ; and an outdoor 

 enclosure of wire-netting, in which they can bask and 

 exercise at pleasure. 



The best way of making such an aviary, where facilities 

 exist, is to partition off with wire-netting one end of a 

 north verandah on the ground floor, and outside to erect a 

 masonry platform as high as the verandah floor, on which 

 should be placed one of those iron structures sold 

 as plant-houses. When this has been netted over 

 the birds can go in and out as they please, and they and 

 their owner can enjoy the shelter of the verandah to- 

 gether when the weather is objectionable out-of-doors. 



