Our  Canaries 
54 
framework,  made  in  sections  for  portability,  which,  when  fitted  together, 
will  fill  the  frontage  of  the  enclosed  space  from  floor  to  ceiling,  and  adapt 
itself  to  all  the  angularities  that  may  exist.  A  door,  preferably  on  the  porch 
and  double-door  system,  large  enough  to  enable  one  to  pass  in  easily,  must  be 
provided  in  the  wire  front.  Being  indoors,  however,  it  is  possible,  but  for 
convenience  sake  not  advisable,  to  dispense  with  the  double  door,  and  as 
the  external  porch,  to  allow  standing  space  between  the  two  doors,  might  prove 
somewhat  of  an  encumbrance  its  position  should  be  reversed,  and  the 
projecting  portion  carrying  the  second  door  placed  inside  the  space  to  be 
occupied  by  the  birds.  Having  completed  the  structure  of  the  front  a  coat 
of  Brunswick  Black  on  the  wire  and  one  or  two  coats  of  wood  stains,  and 
a  final  coat  of  copal  varnish  will  make  the  whole  a  smart  affair  which  will 
not  disgrace  any  kind  of  room. 
THE   INTERNAL  ARRANGEMENTS. 
In  an  aviary  of  this  description  the  birds  are  intended  to  fly  at  liberty. 
Therefore,  if  a  window  has  been  taken  up  in  the  enclosed  space  this  must  be 
protected  with  a  netting  covered  frame  to  prevent  the  escape  of  birds  when 
the  window  is  open,  as  well  as  a 
variety  of  other  accidents  which  may 
happen  were  the  glass  left  unpro- 
tected. This  frame  should  be  made 
to  work  easily  on  hinges  so  that  the 
window  may  be  opened  at  any  time 
with  a  minimum  of  trouble.  The 
floor  should  be  first  covered  with  an 
improvised  carpet  in  the  shape  of 
sheets  of  thick  brown  paper,  and 
then  covered  to  a  depth  of  one  inch 
with  clean  gritty  river  sand,  or,  if  one 
lives  near  enough  the  coast,  with 
sand  from  the  shore.  In  far  inland 
places  where  such  things  are  un- 
getatable,  builders'  sharp  sand  will 
form  a  tolerable  substitute. 
A  pedestal  standing  on  one  leg 
with  a  table-like  top  large  enough  to 
hold  seed  and  water  vessels  should 
FOOD  TABLE  FOR  AVIARY. 
The  leg  covered  with  smooth  tin  to  prevent 
mice  getting  access  to  the  seed. 
occupy  the  centre  of  the  space,  and  no  perch  or  bough  should  be  allowed  to 
overhang  it.  The  latter  precaution  is  a  great  aid  in  helping  to  preserve 
the   food  and   water  vessels    from    unsightly    contamination.     The  vessels 
