Aviaries and Cages. 



37 



perches should be made of hard wood, such as oak or ash, 

 half round at the upper side and square beneath ; the birds 

 can then get a firm grip at them. The top of the cage is 

 constructed like the roof of a house, to run off the wet when 

 the birds are hung outside. It is as well to give the wood 

 roof an additional covering of zinc to render it watertight. 



A cage, similar to the largest of those mentioned, would be 

 well adapted for an Owl, providing that one end of it, to the 

 extent of 12in., was boxed in, and a round hole facing the 

 inside of the cage formed for the bird to pass through from 

 one compartment to the other, as Owls cannot endure the 



Fig. 11. Lark's Cage. 



full glare of a mid-day sun. A door must likewise be con- 

 structed to open outwardly on hinges, at the end of the cage, 

 to get easy access to this inclosure, in order to clean it out 

 when necessary, and it must be made large, as it will be 

 necessary to introduce a 7in. flower pot saucer, or some 

 similar vessel, to afford the occupants a bath at such times 

 as they need it, which will generally be once or twice a 

 week during seasonable weather. The inside woodwork 

 should be lined all round with thin sheet zinc, as the 

 excrement from these birds is sometimes offensive, especially 



