on Economy ancl Mice.



285



generally get my gardener to execute ; he is quick and with moderate

luck few escape him.


Now, although one must do all one can to reduce the numbers

of these little pests; it is, at the same time, best to continue to

place food-pans out of their reach. Some years ago I had several

contrivances made to suspend from wires hooked into the half-inch

netting at the top of one of my aviaries : a saucer-like chinaware

gas-cover with central hole had a short eve-bolt passed through it

and tightened in place by a brass nut. It was attached above to

the suspended wire and from below a short chain was attached,

terminating in a hook on which a small metal cup with wire handles

was hung: in the latter the seed was placed, and any mouse which had

the temerity to descend the wire, was bound to slip off the polished

surface of the saucer and fall about five feet to the cement floor.


This little scheme answered perfectly until the breeding

season came round ; then Grey Singing-finches and Cherry-finches

decided to utilize the metal cups as nesting-receptacles and conse¬

quently threw out most of the seed upon the floor, doubtless to the

great delight of the mice; I therefore had to think out some other

plan : I went to an ironmonger and asked him if he had anything in

the way of heavy metal bases to support an upright standard with

small platform on top. He got out some quaint-looking things

which he said he sold to publicans, but he did not know what they

were used for : I fancy they are rests for foaming beer-mug's, designed

to keep the tables clean, as the centre is raised level with the outer

rim and between the two is a shallow gutter.


Through the centre of these iron bases I had a threaded hole

drilled, into which a smooth cylindrical steel rod about half a yard

long was screwed, its upper extremity being screwed into a light

circular brass disc. The base of the stand was about 7 inches and

the platform at the top about 5 inches in diameter. Upon these

an open flower-pot saucer about 9 inches in diameter and nearly

filled with seed is placed; and thus, for years past, the mice

have only been able to get what tire birds have thrown over; still

where Doves are present this is not a little, since they are of all

birds the most wasteful; they scatter the seed apparently for the

mere pleasure of seeing it fly right and left, whereas Finches, ex-



