THE AVIARY. 



THE AYIARY. 



In visiting Baltimore, we more than once came upon beautiful aviaries — a 

 species of ornament 



not generally intro- ^ 



duced in America, /:4, 



and which it is per- 

 haps as well to avoid, 

 and to encourage the 

 " free tenants of the 

 air" around our dwell- 

 ings. Prisoners of 

 this kind are, how- 

 ever, sought by many ; 

 as it has been said, 

 " people do and will 

 keep them, and it is 

 well to show how 

 birds already con- 

 fined, may be com- 

 paratively reconciled 

 to their imprison- 

 ment." This we leave 

 to books which spe- 

 cially treat on the 

 subject, our only ob- 

 ject at this time being 

 to give a portrait of a 

 summer aviary, for the 

 embellishment of a 

 lawn. The interlac- 

 ing branches form the 

 framework, to which 

 is attached, within a 

 fine wire netting, the 

 latter, painted a gay, 

 ochreous yellow, or 

 pale brown. The 

 nestsand reedsaround 

 the base are happily 



disposed, and appropriate in character, while the falcon poised above, suggests 

 the security of the sheltered inmates of the cage. 



The design might be worked out in metal or wood ; if cast in iron, it would 

 require to be appropriately painted or bronzed ; if in wood, the general frame- 

 work might be formed of well selected tree toppings, with carved nests at the base, 

 on a firm timber or iron foundation. In any case, it would be well to attach near 

 the summit either a wire with rings, or any other simple contrivance for the recep- 

 tion of a light blind or screen, to shade off offensive sunlight, or give shelter dur- 

 ing spring or autumnal frosts 



A Summer Aviary. 



