Breeding and Management. 51 



the top on each side, and fix the clumps up firmly on a 

 mound of earth ; or, if you wish the erection to look well, 

 make it into a rockery. In front of this place a young 

 tree or shrub, grown in a tub or set in the earth, so that it 

 will form a shelter from observation. On one side, or even 

 both sides, of the aviary, form a flower border two feet in 

 width, and sow marigolds therein, and put a few flowers, 

 such as German stocks or asters, in them, to attract flies 

 and insects, for which the birds will look out sharply and 

 devour. 



Make a gravel walk all round the exercise ground 2ft. Sin. 

 in width, and have a bordering of deal painted, fancy tiles, 

 or boxwood. In the centre of it divide the ground, and 

 have one half as a grass plot and the other plain soil. 

 In the latter part, before you commence breeding, gather 

 and place a lot of worms, the larvae of insects, and some 

 ants. These will breed and supply the birds with food. A 

 few artificial nests should be placed here and there, and 

 some small boxes with wired fronts, containing moss, wool, 

 hair, straw, &c., for the birds to build their nests with ; 

 these should be placed near the ends of the perches, where 

 they can be easily seen and are readily accessible. 



In the case of Bullfinches, Greenfinches, &c., whitethorn 

 bushes, hollies, shrubs, &c., should be grown in the borders, 

 as well as flowers ; and outside the aviary, close to the wires, 

 should be another border, in which should be grown French 

 marigolds, dahlias, and such plants as insects are partial 

 to, and a few gooseberry and currant bushes, so that those 

 birds which peck buds can get access to them. It is well 

 also to hang up inside the aviary a piece of uncooked meat 

 in the full glare of the sun, so that the blue flies may 

 strike it, when a supply of maggots will be the result ; 

 on which the birds will greedily feed themselves and their 

 young. For Tits and small birds the wiring of the aviary 

 must be much closer than for larger birds, or they would 

 escape. 



Many other birds, under circumstances such as these, might, 

 and no doubt would, breed in confinement, but not many 

 fanciers would care to take the trouble or incur the ex- 

 pense of rearing them, seeing that birds of these and most 

 other descriptions are so readily procurable from professional 



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