Aviaries and Cages. 



39 



it can easily be removed to be dusted or renewed, when required. 

 Tbe bow or bay front can be made to open on hinges to put 

 in a fresh sod or a bath ; but it is better that the top of 

 the projection or bay only should be made to open, as it 

 answers the same purpose, and the cage will be much stronger 

 if the front be a permanent fixture. The ends may either be 

 wired or made of wood. When wired, the bird gets more light 

 and air ; when of wood, it has more protection from cold winds. 

 Some people wire one end, and construct the other of wood ; 

 this looks rather odd, and spoils its appearance. The cage 

 may be made of any description of wood ; some prefer mahogany 

 French polished, others like fir painted green ; it is all a 

 matter of taste and consideration of cost. 



A Linnet requires a smaller cage than probably any other 

 species of British bird, as it is of a restless disposition. In 

 a small cage it sings with more freedom than in a large 

 one, and, being a very active and energetic bird, it is, when 

 well, constantly in motion, so that the limited space in which 

 a Linnet is usually kept has no detrimental influence on its 

 general health and spirits. The cage should have a seed 

 trough at one end and the water tin placed at the other, 

 and a small tin drawer in the centre for soft food (see Fig. 

 12). At the end where the seed trough is placed should be 

 the door ; only two perches are needed ; these should be fixed 

 about two inches behind the apertures provided for the bird 

 to get to the water and seed troughs. 



Linnet cages should not exceed the following dimensions : 

 length lOin., height 9in., and width 5in.; the base, or bottom 

 part of the cage, should be three or S^in. in depth, and at 

 one end of it a |in. lath should be fitted to work on a wire 

 pivot ; this is to facilitate the cleaning out of the cage. 



When the tin drawer is not being used for soft food it 

 should be filled with sand, so that the bird can obtain a 

 supply without having to descend to the bottom of the cage, 

 and risk damaging its tail feathers. Instead of being made 

 square, some Linnet cages are made with a waggon-shaped 

 top. 



Never have a cage or aviary made with brass wires, as the 

 action of the gas and sometimes a damp atmosphere causes 

 them to become coated with verdigris, or acetate of copper, 

 which is very poisonous, consequently dangerous to the birds. 



