PREVENTION OF ESCAPE AND OP DRAUGHTS. 



01 



prosper, for they get stronger, and become the more pro- 

 ficient singers, the longer they can move in a vast space. 

 Even such young as had been caught, at an early stage, 

 from out of the aviary, and had been transferred to a separate 

 cage, were, although treated in every respect like the hatch- 

 birds of the first brood, left far behind as regards singing 

 by those of the second and third brood, and, without ex- 

 ception, they became but mediocre singers ; while some of 

 their brethren, who had been born later, surpassed their 

 tutors, I have always arranged a separate breeding-cage 

 for one female and one male only ; where there are two 

 females, the cock will sing much less and will often forget 

 his finest melodies, and the breed was, as a rule, not much 

 more fruitful thau was the case with a single pair. This 

 applies also to observations which I have made in the case 

 of other breeders. 



As regards the aviaries, the space of the enclosure should 

 be in proportion to the number of birds located in it ; the 

 more roomy the space which can be allotted to them, the 

 less will they be disturbed, and the better will they breed. 

 If possible, the aviary should be situated towards the 

 morning-sun ; the noon-tide, or evening sun, being less 

 favourable ; and in a room situated in the direction of mid- 

 night, the birds will seldom prosper. In damp and cold 

 rooms, and in such as are deprived of sunshine, diarrhoea, 

 abdominal inflammation and other diseases will declare them- 

 selves much more frequently and with greater virulence. 

 Bars before the windows facilitate the free passage of fresh 

 air; on cold days the windows should be closed in the even- 

 ing so that the half-fledged young may not perish during 

 cold nights, as is frequently the case in the month of 

 May. 



Prevention of Escape and of Draughts — It is very 



practical where small aviaries are concerned, and almost in- 



