Some Practical Bemarks on Practical Aviculture. 125



ground li inches deep in the centre and shelving away to nothing

at the edges. The drain cock in mine is nothing more than the

mouth and neck of a druggist’s wide mouth bottle and a bung fitted

to it. Being glass it is clean and no fear of verdigris or metallic

poison. The cost of the drain cock was of course to me nil. Before

leaving our flight, I would draw attention to the absolute necessity

of an entrance lobby. Ever so small will suffice. It prevents the

loss of birds through escape, and if one does get out through a hole

anywhere or by some unforeseen accident, it is usually easy to catch

them in the lobby, and I have known several instances where stray

birds have been caught in the lobby. Then one word as regards

the doors. All outer doors leading to the lobby and the lobby door

above, should be fitted with a powerful spring. I have found the

vertical coil spring the most efficacious for outdoor work, and it

is quite inexpensive.


Those of our readers who read the writer’s articles on Cactus

Conures will recollect the mention made of eaves. Eaves are a

supplement to, and not a substitute for, a proper shelter. All birds

are fond of eaves both for roosting and nesting. Wherever I have

a wooden partition between two aviaries there you will find a row

of eaves and there you will find the birds sheltering during the wet

and often roosting at night. In flights which are much exposed, it

is a good plan to have a row of short boards along the top of the

flight about 2 feet deep with eaves attached and under the eaves an

assortment of branches. In such a case, each end of the eaves

should be closed and so make a snug shelter for the birds. In

my parrakeet aviaries I have hung perches from side to side the

whole width, and at the far end of the flight, protected above and

outside by match-boarding. This is by far the most favourite rest¬

ing place for the parrakeets, protecting them as it does from the

hot sun, the prevailing winds (S.W.) and also of course from the

rain. Transverse perches are almost a necessity for the Platycerci,

if one is to have regard for their feet. Climbers and creepers are

not possible in a parrakeet aviary. By the way, there appear to be

two things parrakeets don’t destroy, and they are Stinging Nettles

and the Common Bindweed.



