brads, one being hammered each way into each side of the notch.  Next proceed to cut four more of the square sticks.  Two of these should be one foot in length, and the remaining two eight inches.  The corners of these should now be neatly bevelled off, so as to fit after the manner of a picture-frame.  They should then be attached to [Page 78] the upper ends of the uprights by a brad through the corner of each, as seen at (b), the dotted lines indicating the end of the upright beneath.  These sticks should likewise be pierced with holes to correspond with those in the bottom board, and running up and down in the direction of the wires.

[Illustration]

The middle tier of braces are next required.  Two of these should be ten and a half inches in length, and the other two six and a-half, and the ends should be perfectly smooth.  These should now be punched with holes corresponding with those above, after which they may be inserted between the uprights as seen in the engraving, and secured by a brad at each end.

The trap door is shown separate at (c).  The side sticks should be eight inches in length, and one-half an inch square, and the top and bottom sticks five inches in length.  They should be set in between the side sticks, and the lower one should be secured about half an inch above the lower ends of the uprights, as seen in the illustration.  The holes should be made in the side pieces, and the wire run across from side to side, as shown.  Annealed iron, or copper wire is best for this purpose.  The door should now be pivoted or hinged at the top of the cage, between the long sides, in such a position as that the top end shall rest on one of the narrow upper edges of the cage.  A stiff wire should be used for the hinge, being passed through the top pieces of the cage into the lower ends of the door pieces.  The cage may now be wired throughout.  This is an easy matter, if the holes are properly made.  About thirty yards of the wire will be required:  iron wire is generally used.  It should be about the size of a hair-pin, and should work easily.  Commence by passing it from the under side of the bottom board through one of the holes next to the corner.  Pass the wire upward, through the centre braces, again upward through the top piece and across to the opposite broad side and corresponding hole.  From this point it should pass downwards, through centre brace, and again through the bottom.  Draw the wire tightly and passing it upward through the hole next to it, bring it over the top of the cage and around again to the bottom edge from which it started.  Continue thus until the hinge of the door is reached; after which the wire should be passed up and down on the same side and thus carried around the small end of the cage until it finally meets at the door hinge on the opposite side.  The two halves of the cage should now be separated by a grating of wire, as seen in the main [Page 79] illustration.  This may