6 Pigeons and Aii About Them. 



or liu. boards, tongued and grooved, and thtn covered 

 c-itlier with asphaltic felt or corrugated iron. If the latter 

 IS used it IS not advisable to fix it close to the wooden 

 roof, but to raise it about an inch so as to allow of 

 a current of air sweeping underneath it. This will 

 keep the loft cool in summer and warm in winter. 

 The tt-alls should be of the same thickness. In fixing 

 up such an aviary, it is well to have two houses, one 

 at each end, and the flight divided, in the middle; 

 such an arrangement means saving of cost and space. 

 The length and width of such an erection must be 

 governed by the space at command. 



CO\'ERED FLIGHTS BEST. 



I recommend such flights to be covered the same 

 as the house. There are several reasons for this, but 

 the chief one is that cats, which are alwa^'s prowling 

 about, cannot get through a wooden or corrugated iron 

 roof, whereas they will get through a wired top. 

 Again, in such a situation, dirt, smuts, and blacks 

 abound, and even if one kee])s self-coloured birds, 

 such are best kept away. A third reason is that the 

 floor is kept in better condition. The houses proper, 

 or sleeping places, should be built of timber of same 

 thickness as the roof, and may be covered with 

 asphaltic felt, the walls being tarred, or painted, as 

 the fancy of the owner may direct. If appearances 

 are to be considered, then dark green paint is the 

 thing, with the windows and doors picked out or 

 relieved with white. The floor should also be built 

 of the same thickness of timber. I refer to the floor 

 of the house proper. 



THE BOTTOINE OF THE FLIGHT. 



The floor of the flight may be covered with sand, 

 or it may be given a layer of concrete and cement. A 

 fair sized window should be affixed to the house, and 

 a like remark apj^lies to the door; but the door should 

 open into the flight, and not direct into the garden, 

 the reason for this being that a bird may, if startled 

 make a dash over one's head, and be out and awav 

 before there is the slightest chance of stoppiuo- it 



