British bird Aviary at Toddingto^i Manor. 105 
IBiitisb bu•^ Bv>iai\: at ^To^Dincirou flDanor. 
By Mrs. E. Warren Veknon. 
Tlie photographic reproduction clearly shows the design 
of aviary, — which is home made. The measurements are as 
follows: — Brick base 3 ft.; wire from brick base to eaves 5 ft.; 
height of flight from ground to arch 9:]- ft. ; length of flight 11 ft. 
Shed, 5 ft. long bj' 7 ft. wide. Shed floor, concrete ; roof, cor- 
rugated iron ; it is much higher than flight so as to encourage 
the birds to roost inside. Flight is covered with |-inch mesh 
wire netting. Scrim curtains running on iron rods can be drawn 
at night over the top and round the sides, thus keeping away 
mj' great enemies — the Little Owls. I have twice lost half an 
aviary of birds in one night through these birds. 
In the flight of the aviary are box trees, grass plots and fir 
poles with branches cut close, as perches, surrounded by a gravel 
path. It faces S.W., being quite shut in from N. and E. by high 
buildings round the stable yard. One side is against the garden 
wall ; the shed end leans against an old brick building. 
Under the shed, all perches and food vessels are hung, and 
to prevent mice fouling the food, I have wood platforms with 
circular holes cut in tli^m to receive the sinking glass vessels 
containing seed, etc.. suspended by wire from the roof. Tlie 
mice cannot get down the wire, and the birds readily find the 
food. All perches are swung in the same manner, as I find birds 
delight in a swinging perch. 
At ))resent the aviary contains the following birds: — One 
pair of Bullfinches (hand-reared last year), the hen has a white 
head ; pairs each of Greater Whitethroats, Black Redstarts, 
Stonechats, Tree Pipit and Yellow Wagtails. Shortly I intend 
adding Nuthatches, Nightingales, and probably many others. 
The Bullfinches have mated, and at the present time (May 
6lh) the hen is busily incubating four eggs. I had to make the 
nest for her, as she laid her eggs in a canary nest box, wood and 
zinc lining; I put in the bottom of a Chaffinche.s' nest, of which 
she evidently approved as she immediately settled down to 
incubate the eggs. 
