334 The Sonnchrrq Aviaries. 



terests are generally confined to the one or two indivirluals 

 which chance has broug-ht into their hands, and rarely lead 

 them to engage more extensively in hird -keeping. 



There is another factor, however, which, undoubtedly 

 has had as much influence in bringing about this condition. 

 As wild birds near at hand arc the ones mo'^t apt to be caged 

 by beginners, the passage of certain bird -protection laws has 

 had the unfortunate effect of reducing to a minimum the pos- 

 sibility that the first impulse toward this fascinating study 

 might be received from the keeping of native birds in captivity. 

 As a result, American aviculture is confined to the public 

 zoological parks and gardens, and the collections of a very 

 few private individuals, who've numbers, happil3^ are now in- 

 creasing. 



Among the larger of the private establishments is that 

 of Mrs. Frederick Ferris Thompson, at Canandaigua, New 

 York, which may well be regaffrcff as a model for its kind. 

 " Sonneberg " is an estate of very considerable extent, about 

 fifty -two acres being walled in to form the home grounds. 

 These have been developed very successfully, along unusually 

 artistic lines. The aviaries are open to the public on every 

 Saturday afternoon from two until five o'clock, and the entire 

 park is likewise open on the second and fourth Fridays of 

 July, August and September. Thousands of people from 

 Canandaigua and neighbouring towns take advantage of 

 this hospitality, and enjoy the grounds on those days. 



The aviaries occupy an area of alx)ut one acre. They 

 had their inception in one of less pretentious dimensions which 

 Mrs. Thompson saw in California. The first of the buildings, 

 known as "The Aviary," was built in 1902, and the Pheasant 

 Aviary, which completes the construction originally planned, 

 was completed in 1909. The houses include the large Aviary, 

 the Jay House, the Parrot House, the hospital adjoining, and 

 the Pheasant Aviary. On July 21, 1911, the collection con- 

 sisted of 891 birds representing 246 species. 



The Aviary contains an indoor space of fifty by twenty- 

 seven feet, with an attached flying cage thirty feet high by 

 fifty feet in diameter. Exclusive of this, there are oflices, an 

 observation room, and a small museum as yet undeveloped. 

 The house is built of wood and cement, the roof, one end' 



