62  Our  Canaries 
It  consists  of  making  the  inlets  by  passing  a  pipe  horizontally  through 
the  wall,  and  adding  a  short  elbow  pointing  upwards  inside  the  house  or  room, 
and  a  similar  elbow  of  at  least  twice  the  length  on  the  outside.  When  this 
is  properly  fixed,  the  pure  cool  air  passing  down  the  long  outside  elbow  is 
syphoned  out  at  the  other  end  into  the  room,  without  any  possibility  of  draughts 
occurring.  It  is,  in  fact,  bringing  pure  air  into  the  room  with  a  syphon,  just  as 
much,  and  in  an  analogous  way,  as  one  might  draw  off  fluid  from  a  vessel  of  any 
kind  by  a  syphon  pipe.  This  system  seems  to  be  one  that  is  generally  applicable 
to  any  kind  of  building,  whether  the  walls  are  wood  or  stone  or  brick ;  thick  or 
thin  ;  and  its  exclusion  of  draughts  should  render  it  peculiarly  suitable  to  the 
needs  of  bird  fanciers  and  aviarists. 
A  WORD  ON  DECORATIONS. 
What  has  already  been  written  about  elaborate  ornamentation  and 
decorations  in  cages  and  small  aviaries  will  apply  in  a  somewhat  less  degree  m 
the  case  of  larger  structures.  But  in  large  out-door  aviaries  where  the  birds  have 
liberty  to  fly  about  at  will,  and  unlimited  opportunities  for  bathing,  they  are 
better  able  to  resist  the  attacks  of  external  parasites  of  all  kinds,  and  it  is  rare 
that  these  pests  will  become  really  troublesome.  More  scope  may  therefore 
be  given  to  one's  artistic  tastes  in  adding  to  the  appearance  of  the  aviary  by 
judicious  ornamentation.  Care  must,  however,  be  taken  to  avoid  overstepping 
the  bounds  of  prudence,  and  such  things  as  virgin  cork  and  similar  rustic-looking 
decorations  should  be  rigidly  barred  from  the  covered-in  sleeping  quarters,  and, 
save  in  the  very  largest  structures,  limited  to  a  trivial  amount  in  the  open-air 
space.  They  give  the  desired  artistic  touch  to  the  whole— of  that  there  can  be  no 
question— but  are  only  too  often,  sooner  or  later,  apt  to  become  a  pestiferous 
nuisance.  Remember  that  every  extra  fitting  or  ornament  may  ultimately  form 
an  additional  source  of  worry  and  anxiety,  by  becoming  another  harbour  for 
insect  pests  and  disease  germs.  It  would  be  a  suicidal  policy  for  anyone  to 
rest  on  his  oars,  so  to  speak,  and  think  that  he  and  his  stock  are  immune 
to  such  attacks,  or  some  day  he  will  probably  have  a  very  rude  awakening.  In  a 
greater  or  less  degree  birds  kept  under  all  conditions  are  susceptible  to  such 
forces ;  therefore,  it  is  the  only  wise  policy  to  always  bear  in  mind  the  possibility 
of  their  attacks. 
In  the  matter  of  nesting  sites,  perches,  the  feeding  and  water  receptacles 
and  baths,  all  that  has  been  written  concerning  them  in  our  indoor  aviary 
will  apply  equally  here,  and  it  will  be  sufficient  to  remark  that  the  number  of 
such  receptacles  rather  than  the  size  should  be  increased  with  the  increasing 
size  of  the  structures  under  consideration.  This  will  prevent  much  quarrellmg 
among  the  birds.  Nesting  sites  in  particular  must  be  supplied  with  freedom,  not 
only  to  prevent  quarrels,  but  to  avert  tragedies  and  loss  of  young.    Food  and 
