4 



British Cage Birds. 



The cost of making sucli an erection would not be very great, 

 for it could be covered with half-inch wire netting, fastened 

 to upright stakes, with cross-pieces to support them, and to 

 secure the top covering. 



Care must be taken that too many birds, and those of 

 different species and habits, are not put together. Gold- 

 finches and Linnets, Greenfinches and Bullfinches, and Siskins 

 and Eedpolls, will generally agree well together ; but if 

 Thrushes, Blackbirds, Eedstarts, Starlings, Larks, Eobins, 

 and the like, are mixed up with them, they are sure to 

 disagree ; and any attempt at breeding, under such circum- 

 stances, may be forthwith abandoned, as it would be sure 

 to result in an ignominious failure. Three or four pairs of 

 birds are quite as many as would be likely to agree together 

 in an aviary, say 14ft. by 7ft., and those should, if intended 

 to propagate their species, be granivorous or omnivorous in 

 their habits. 



Care also must be taken, before the birds are introduced 

 to the aviary, to see that they are properly paired or mated, 

 and give signs of attachment to each other ; otherwise, cases 

 of infidelity, which will result in angry combats, are sure to 

 take place ; but if only one species of birds — such as Gold- 

 finches or Bullfinches — are to be kept together, it is sufficient 

 to turn an equal number of males and females together into 

 the aviary in the autumn, and allow them to select their 

 own partners. If, however, two males make choice of the 

 same female, or two females of the same male, and they 

 are unable speedily to settle their own differences, it will 

 be advisable to remove one of them, or a conflict, ending 

 in disaster, will probably be the result. 



Fir and pine boughs, which should be cut in the early 

 spring, ought to be used for making secluded haunts ; but 

 where it is possible to grow small trees, such as thorny firs, 

 and evergreens, it will be best to do so, as the birds will 

 be found, in most cases, to prefer them to the cut boughs. 

 A plentiful supply of sand, small gravel, and wholesome food, 

 and water — both for drinking and bathing — must be provided ; 

 and remember that cleanliness is an essential requirement, 

 which, under no pretence, and under no circumstances, must 

 be neglected. A few cocoa-nut shells and nest baskets should 

 be placed here and there in different parts of the aviary. 



