300



Mr. Frank Finn,



The Chinese transport-cages seem to me to be the most

perfect form that has been devised for a hot climate at all events.

They are made of split bamboo, remarkably true, though without

a single nail in them. Top, sides and bottom are all of this work,

with a draw-tray below. There are three sliding doors, one in

the middle and one at each end, so that birds can be run from

one cage to another without handling, and at the bottom of the

front are two tiny doors, one at each end, to allow of slipping in

troughs for food and water. The perches, three in a high cage

and two in a flat one, are fixed immovably by having one of the

bars let through a hole in the end during the process of con¬

struction, and do not cross, but run from end to end.


The only fault in the cage, is in fact, that thus the end of

the perches conies over the food and water. This of course

should be avoided, but in practice I have found birds thrive

extraordinarily well in these cages, which are commonly used in

Calcutta as store cages by the dealers, who keep stock in them

for months together, and that in a fiendishly hot climate.


The usual size is about two feet long. Some are square in

section, others flat; the latter are of course best for shipping,

and I have seen such different birds as Canaries and Japanese

Teal thriving in cages of the same pattern, the perches being of

course removed in the latter case.


Ground-birds do not need perches during transport, even

if, like Pheasants and some ducks, they perch occasionally, unless

the cage is a high one, which will seldom be found possible.

Perching-birds, being always on the jump, need perches even

when on a barred floor, but these should.always be put so as not

to cross, and it is well to have one thick and the other thin,

where two are used, to afford a change of grip. Of course the

drawback to a cane cage is that it affords no protection from

weather and vermin. If, therefore, it cannot be hung out of the

reach of rats and cats, it will have to be enclosed in a case with a

hinged front of wire ; and in this case it will be very likely

thought as well to make a box cage while one is about it.


The front of such a cage is best made of strong wire gauze

of a quarter-inch mesh ; if netting is used, two layers should be

put on, separated by corks, which will bid any vermin defiance.



