a small Aviary in the Hills in India. 371


6 high, and is not strictly ail outdoor one as it has always lived

in a verandah, but quite outdoor enough in the winter. It is

made in two parts to hook together for portability—a great

consideration. The floor is of planks. A slit runs along the

entire length of one side to allow of trays (tin mounted on

wood) being slipped in from outside to keep the floor clean.

The trays of the wire part are made in two to hook together if

necessary, and I have found this half-tray very useful for slipping

in small luxuries. The trays are sanded.


One part (6ft. by 4ft.) is made of wood and glass, the wood

being in panels covered with blanket and tarpaulin for warmth

and to keep the rain off. Blanket sounds bad for insects, but as

yet I have had no bother with mite except round one Canary’s

nest, and this in spite of my never having had the aviary empty

for a thorough disinfection. I meant to do it this spring, but the

birds I put in as a temporary measure mostly started breeding,

and I did not care to turn them out as I intended, so I see no

chance of a real cleaning till the autumn, when the inside will be

painted ; there is some difficulty in seeing into the brushwood

at the far end at present. Half of the top half (near the wire part)

is of glass (fixed) on each side. Besides this there is a small window

(ift. square) on each side, and the back to open if required.

In front, opening into the wire part is a half-glazed door, 5ft. by

2ft. wide in two parts to allow the top part (2ft. by ift.) to open

separately as a window. The other half of the front is similar

except that only the window can be opened. These doors and

windows are open or shut according to season. The back is

covered thick with brushwood.


The outside part requires little description, being all of

£-incli mesh wire galvanised. Add perches (natural and made,

placed to give as long a fly as possible and not over food or

water), boxes, nests, dishes for food and water, and you have my

first Indian aviary, small, but productive of much pleasure.


. A small door leads into the wire part from outside in

front, i.e., a 4ft. end, so called as the birds are mostly looked at

from that end, owing to being in a verandah. This fact and

necessity for portability account for its comparative narrowness,

though I must say I prefer this shape to an aviary of say 8ft. by



