188 GARDEN AND AVIARY BIRDS. 



Many birds like to sleep in holes ; miniature pigeon- 

 boxes and even cocoanut shells as opposed to husks 

 will suit these. 



CLEANING. 



Cages, whether large or small, should be cleaned daily 

 and have the floor-tray covered with dry sand or earth ; 

 the very fine gravel which can be collected from roads 

 after a shower is very good. 



Aviaries need not be cleaned out so often, though if 

 the indoor end be in a verandah, a daily cleaning is 

 best. The bedding in an aviary should be thick if not 

 renewed daily, and may be of sand, mould, dead leaves, 

 or saw-dust. Dead leaves will amuse the birds and come 

 in handy for the garden after. No aviary should be 

 kept longer than a week uncleaned, unless shy birds are 

 breeding in it. 



The flight will of course not need cleaning, but may 

 be turfed when the grass is getting thin. 



Once a year all aviaries and large cages should be white- 

 washed inside. All perches and nesting-boxes should be 

 removeable, though securely fixed, so as to be cleaned 

 at this time or oftener. 



FEEDING AND DRINKING-VESSELS. 



For aviaries and large cages shallow open pans are best, 

 proportioned to the size of the inmates. The water-pan 

 should be large as the birds will bathe in it ; it should 

 be unglazed, so that they can find good footing on the 

 floor of it. In the outdoor aviary it should be placed on 



