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ivy climb up the house and greatly improve the appearance of

what is only a very plain structure. At each end of the aviary

there is a window, and in the roof two skylights, all made to

open. The house is divided inside by a wire partition, making

two compartments. There is a water supply in each aviary

constantly running, the stone basins being shaped so that the

birds can bathe in any depth they wish. The waste pipe is only

a half-inch one, and this I found would have been better larger

as it occasionally gets choked with husks and sand, and is rather

troublesome to clear again. The birds greatly delight in their

bath, and I think it has much to do with keeping them in health.

Under each window is fixed a shelf 4^ ft. long by 1 ft. wide. In

these shelves are cut holes large enough for an ordinary saucer

to fit into, the holes being sloped at the edge to prevent the

saucers falling through. These shelves are cleaned eveiy morn¬

ing, and the saucers refilled with seed, they are also washed when

the aviary is done out every week. I find this method of supply¬

ing food much more convenient than hoppers, and besides so

many more birds can feed together at the same time.


At first I had the floor of the aviary sodded, but finding it

impossible to keep it clean I substituted grey tiles, and find it

much better than grass. The tiles are sprinkled with fresh red

sand every week. It does not seem harmful to the birds in any

way, though river sand would doubtless be much better, but it is

difficult to get here and very expensive. At different places

about the aviary are fixed wooden blocks with holes in them

into which bare tree branches are screwed for the birds to

perch in. (Fastened in this way there is no fear of them

coming down.) Cigar boxes and rush nests are placed amongst

the Scotch Fir and gorse branches, these being renewed twice a

year. Two large cages are in the larger aviary fastened to the

walls, but these are chiefly used for temporary tenants, or for

any birds that require catching up and nursing. All the birds

that can be given their liberty are allowed to fly loose in the

aviary, and are so accustomed to having visitors that they

seldom show any fear of strangers, while to the attendant (who

is exceedingly kind and considerate to his small charges) and

myself they are quite indifferent, and carry on their various

occupations just as if we were not there.


Once a year the aviary is brushed out from roof to floor

with plenty of Sanitas and soap, and the wall at the back white¬

washed. The first year I heated the aviary with an oil lamp in

one of the porches. All went well for some time, but one night



