92 Formation of Pens. 



■completely denuded of their contents. The ground is trenched 

 spade deep, thickly sown with unslacked lime, then covered 

 with from two to three inches of fresh, clean, dry loam, and 

 finally freely moistened with water through an ordinary 

 garden-rosed watering-pot, when any floating lime dust is 

 •effectualh^ disposed of, and the }"oung birds may with safety 

 be introduced. 



" Our aviary, in its entirety, measures in width about 

 27ft., and length lOSft., there being, however, three transverse 

 divisions ; four square compartments are thus formed. A 

 .small trench, one foot in depth, is dug around the whole 

 structure. A piece of stout wire netting, 1ft. Gin. in 

 width, placed with one edge in the bottom of the trench, 

 has its other laced with wire to the hurdles, up the outside of 

 which it extends nine inches, when the earth is filled in, and 

 rammed. The inclosure is thus rendered fox-, cat-, and rabbit- 

 proof ; it has further attached to it ' gorse bavins,' thus 

 securing warmth and privacj^. The whole of the other 

 portions have now strained over them stout H-in. mesh 

 galvanised wire netting, the top only carefully left free, for 

 ingress and egress of wild birds. Inside each compartment, 

 and parallel with the divisions, is now placed a row of bush 

 bavins, one against the other, tightly pressed together, forming 

 an inverted letter V. On the apex of these faggots the Ijirds 

 love to perch, preen, and doze, while a secure retreat in case 

 of sudden fright is offered by the httle tunnel left at the base. 

 A few faggots may also for a similar purpose be placed leaning 

 against the sides and corners of the inclosure, those angles 

 where the doors are hung excepted. 



" We have also two smaller pens, alilie in all respects, and 

 .attached to those already described, but in measurement only 

 10ft. by 7ft. These are used for the temporary confinement 

 of any quarrelsome, egg-destroying, or otherwise refractory 

 bird, who can thus, until its wing is sufficiently strong for 

 flight, remain. One of the hurdles dividing these small pens 

 from their neighbours — a.^, indeed, in each of the interior 



