IOO



Mr. Aug. F. Wiener,



like to give his birds a maximum of room, and every beginner in

bird-keeping is apt to jump at the idea that his birds will be

happy in proportion to the size of their cages or aviaries, and

happiest in the company of a great many other birds.


As a good many fallacies are at the bottom, as a consequence

of the present tendency to keep birds in large numbers in one

enclosure, a little consideration and discussion of the subject

of cages and aviaries will be timely, interesting and useful.


I quite foresee that many readers of this paper may not

share my views and conclusions, though these ideas are based on

considerable practical experience and long observation.


Very often however more is to be learned from listening to

and weighing opinions contrary to our own, than from listening

to those who think like ourselves. Therefore I trust some of the

following points may contain some matter worth remembering

by readers of this magazine.


Targe aviaries for cage birds may be all very well for

private owners who take a minute interest in every individual

bird they possess and whom the birds know, who can go among

their birds without disturbing them and who will sit down

quietly in their midst, take delight in watching them, the while

planning out what they can do for the birds collectively in the

way of food and protection in conformity with the change of the

season or weather, and what may be necessary for any birds

individually when these require any special attention during

sickness, moulting, etc.


If a stranger comes to view the inhabitants of such an

aviary, and especially if children come who love to make the

birds fly, the latter will retire to corners or hide in bushes and

make themselves invisible.


Large aviaries are certain to be invaded by mice, if not

rats. The former will devour the food destined for the birds and

what they do not eat they will foul, whilst the rats will eat the

food and the birds as well.


The first aviary I possessed was built thirty-five years ago

and I had imagined that its design was beautifully thought out.

It had small fountains, miniature lakes, rockworkwith pockets in

which plants grew, trees and perches af all kinds, nesting-boxes



