Aviaries and Cages. 



23 



cage, whicli can be got at simply by lifting up the window- 

 sash. Care must be taken to make it so that the upper 

 part of the window can be lowered or raised at pleasure. 

 It would require to be fitted with perches and feeding-hoppers, 

 &c. These can easily be arranged to be fitted outside or 

 inside, as may be desired. 



Another form of aviary can be constructed at a trifling cost 

 in the following manner : — Select a corner where there are 

 two walls running at right angles to each other. To be 

 substantial and useful, the lower part should be built with 

 bricks, and so arranged as to form a dog-kennel — a good 

 idea for keeping away rats, cats, and mice — or rabbit- 

 house or poultry shelter, or for any other purpose for which 

 it may be found convenient, such as a tool-house or stick- 

 house, or to stow away a lot of flower-pots. It should be 

 built with walls 9in. in thickness to a height of 3ft. Gin. 

 from the ground level ; and if required for a tool-house or 

 stick-house, the floor should be sunk to the depth required, 

 and entered by a couple of steps. It should be about 5ft. 

 in length and from 2ft. 9in. to 3ft. Gin. in width. The 

 lower part at one end would require a door and frame, and 

 if required for a dog-kennel or poultry, a suitable aperture 

 could be made in it for either purpose. On the top of 

 this build the aviary. It should have a wooden floor, 

 lin. thick, tongued and grooved, and be wired in front and 

 at one end, like a birdcage ; but the entire end should first 

 be framed to form a door to open on hinges, so as to admit 

 anyone to limewash and thoroughly cleanse it out when 

 needed. 



A smaller door, made of wire, to slide, should be formed 

 at the bottom part, and secured with a small rod, two eyes 

 being made at the bottoms of the extreme upright wires 

 used for the frame, or in such other way as may appear 

 best adapted to please the owner. Round the floor should 

 be a wooden border, say, oin. in depth, to keep in the dirt, 

 and to let the wires into, and either at the side or end a 

 piece, say, 2in. deep, should be cut off this bordering, and 

 again secured to it by hinges, made to fold back for the 

 purpose of cleaning out the bottom part, which can be done 

 with an iron rake or scraper, made for the purpose, with a 

 long handle. This flap can be secured with thumbscrews. 



