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Dr. Maurice Amsler,



The two gable ends of the shed were first put up, ridge board

and rafters followed, a large skylight was let in to each slope of the

roof, which was then hoarded and covered with “ Stoniflore,” a great

improvement on tarred felt. The sides of the shelter shed were not

boarded but glazed — the glass being stippled with white paint,

which obviates the necessity of wire netting to protect the birds

from injury—the shed being then divided, by means of 2in. by 2in.

quartering and half-inch mesh wire, into four partitions, 10ft. by 9ft.

Each of the partitions opens by means of a glazed door into an

outside flight, 10ft. by 18ft., but in cold weather the doors can be

kept shut and the birds allowed to fly in and out of the shelter

through a small trap door placed above each door and worked by a

cord and pulley.


The floor of the shelter is concreted, and each partition is

provided with a 4in. by 4in. post, 3ft. high, on which is planted the

feeding' tray, thus the food is absolutely out of reach of mice.


The doors leading from one partition to another have each,

in addition to a latch, a special spring, thus obviating an accidental

“ mix-up ” of the birds should one be left unsecurely fastened.


The outside flights, 18ft. by 10ft., are 8ft. high and built of

stout quartering and fin. mesh wire netting, this was an extravagance

which I hoped would keep mice out, but so far I have failed signally

in this, although the house is let 18in. into the ground.


All birds prefer to roost rather high, and I have found that

they can easily be induced to do so in the shelter, provided the

shelter is higher than the flights, they are thus safe from storms,

rain and cats. While on the latter subject, I might mention that I

have fixed rectangular wire brackets, projecting two feet all round

the tops of the flights, on which is stretched one inch mesh wire

netting, this making the top of the aviary absolutely inaccessible to

cats ; by means of this contrivance, a rifle, and last, but not least, a

bull terrier, I no longer have much trouble from felis clomesticus.

It is perfectly maddening to wake up in the middle of the night and

hear your poor birds—some of which are perhaps sitting—dashing

about in the dark, and, on looking out, to see the hated dark form

of a cat crouching or careering about on the roof of the aviary.


Each of the flights is provided with a concrete bath, which is



