74 Miss C. W. Thnrhiirn's Cages and Aviaries. 
not improved her results in the reproduction of British Birds 
or hj-lirids. The larger aviaries are good flights for winter 
use or for a mixed non-breeding collection, and the smaller 
aviaries are very useful for breeding British birds or hybrids 
and no doubt would be as useful for small foreigners. The 
(loifljle wire fronts protect the birds from their naturaf ene- 
mies, the cats, etc., the glass slides keep out the cold at 
night, the hinged roof allows the opening of the front half 
(under which is wire) to let in additional sunlight, the par- 
titions arc removable so that a section can be shut, off when 
cleaning, etc. These aviaries stand high above the ground, 
and therefore are dry and can be kept free from mice. The 
cosiness suggests a thick hedgerow, and the depth from front to 
back gives a good shelter for timid birds. The success of 
these aviaries has been demonstrated by the fact that Miss 
Thorburn has bred Goldfinches, Siskins, and hybrids from 
lx)th the cock and hen Siskin. This year a hen Siskin bred 
and reared nine youngsters from nine egg-, and there is no doubt 
that many more hybrids would have resulted fi-om Miss Thor- 
burn's season's work if more of these hutch-like aviaries had 
been used instead of the larger aviaries, three of which adorn 
her garden. 
For the present I am using a spare room for my birds, 
but my next move will be in the direction of the cosy, con- 
venient hutch-like aviaries of Miss Thorburn's design. I 
have been interested in ornithology and aviculture all my life, 
and have visited many bird rooms and aviaries, including those 
at Hoddam Castle. I have certainly seen many structures more 
elaborate in design and attractive in appearance than the ones 
mentioned in these few remarks, but I have failed to extract 
information giving better results in proportion. The larger 
aviaries are grand for a mixed collection of birds, l)ut the 
smaller ones herein descfilied are certainly the most useful for 
breeding purposes. How often one hears the remark and have 
read it also in Bird Notes that two or more birds have 
chosen the same nesting site, and that good results might have 
accrued if inquisitive neighlx)urs had not interfered, etc., etc. 
