Seed and Water Holes. 31 



come presently — but it v/ill be as \vell to say here that in wiring above the door the wires must 

 come through the cross-piece to the under-side, so as to fill up the holes. It might be urged that 

 it would be as well not to pierce through the cross-bar at this particular place ; but by carrying the 

 wires through it materially strengthens the work at a weak spot, at the same time the bar need 

 not be pricked quite through if care be used with the awl. Any little precaution of this kind could 

 be better carried out in making one cage than in making a set ; our usual plan is to plane up a 

 clean piece of stuff, and having measured off as many bars as the width will allow, and set off the 

 marks for the holes with a square, to prick the entire piece before cutting it up. We have then 

 several lengths all pierced with exactness, and then it matters not where it is cut, or into how 

 many long or short lengths, for the tops and bottoms of doors or other purposes, the holes will 

 always be found to correspond and make true work. The same way with other cross-pieces ; 

 clamp as many together as can be managed, and mark them off for pricking on one scale, and 



M 



FIG. 6. — SEED AND WATER HOLES. 



then there is never any risk of top and bottom holes not corresponding, or the wiring getting out 

 of the perpendicular. 



The wires for the seed and water holes must be cut a few inches longer than the others, and 

 three will be required for each compartment, one for water and two for seed. They are easily 

 twisted into shape by bending round a piece of hard wood ; we use a ruler of lignum vitse rather 

 less than an inch in diameter. The most approved twist is shown in the illustration. To secure 

 them in their places it is only necessary to hammer out the lower edge of the loop on any smooth 

 solid surface (nothing better than that useful domestic appliance, a flat-iron), when it can be made 

 sufficiently sharp to easily bury itself in the soft wood and remain securely fixed. The water-hole 

 wire should be inserted about the third or fourth from the side, and the seed-hole wires should 

 occupy the third and fifth places next the partition, according to the length of the seed-hopper 

 intended to be used, which, as will be presently explained, should cover both sets of seed-holes on 

 either side of the partition. 



We must delay binding the strengthening cross-wire until our door is hung— and the door is 

 a most important part of a cage. A great deal of work has to be done through the open door, 

 which must be large enough to admit the hand easily, and, if needs be, a jar containing a bunch 

 of chickweed or groundsel, or other green food, without being obliged to turn it so much on one 



