196



P. B. Webb—Things which may Help



place seeding grasses. They will keep the grass from withering and their

shape spreads the grasses so that the birds can reach every head of

seed. Do not forget to plug the centre with a wisp of grass to keep the

birds from being drowned.


A root of Polygonum Sachalinense is well worth having in an aviary.

It grows to about six or seven feet high and its large leaves give a

tropical effect, also good cover for the birds from strong sun and rain.

It dies down in the winter and shoots up again each spring.


It is useless, of course, in aviaries in which there are birds which

eat every green leaf they come upon.



Those who are contemplating the building of a new aviary should

consider this method. Build each side and the roof in sections. When

the inside of a section has been sheeted with tongue and groove sheeting,

turn it over and fill the whole up to the level of the framing with saw¬

dust which has been well sprinkled with creosote ; then the outside

sheeting may be nailed in place. When all the sections are completed

and a foundation has been prepared, the house may be erected, care

having been taken, when designing, for bolts and holes for final

fastening. Half-inch sheeting will be required for the outside and even

thinner will do for the inside. If you do this you will have a house on

the lines of a hay-box cooker in which the temperature can be kept

very even. It also has the advantage of being very cheap to build.

Double glass with a space of 1 inch between panes will be well worth



