170 II. D. Astley—The Neio Collection at Chdteau de Clares


I had the pleasure of staying with him in August. The chateau

itself, which is sixteenth century, with a fifteenth century annexe,

is situated in a wooded valley, and a small clear chalk river running

close to the house broadens to a miniature lake with two islands,

where later on many waterfowl will be assembled.


The ground rises steeply on one side of the water, with splendid

trees and grassy glade, whilst on the other the flat meadow-land is

again bounded by trees and the wooded line of the hills, all of which

exceptional beauty can be viewed from the windows of the chateau.

In the chateau itself a gallery of 45 feet long opens on to an ancient

terrace, and in this gallery Monsieur Delacour has cages and small

aviaries which occupy the whole length on one side, whilst on the other

are two large aquariums.


The occupants of the bird gallery are Sunbirds (Mariquensis and

Malachite), Blue, Green, and Yellow-winged Sugar birds, Gold-fronted

Phyllornis, various Tanagers, such as Necklace, Superb, and one

specimen of Calliste pretiosa, a very handsome bird with chestnut

head, fawn shoulders, and pale blue-green underparts. In another

compartment are two Barbets, the Levaillant and the black-collared

Lybius torquatus, a rare bird, with brilliant scarlet on the fore neck,

edged with a broad black band. Budgerigars are represented by

green, blue, yellow, apple-green, and olive. Several species of Waxbills

and small seed-eaters, Cuban Finches, etc., inhabit another cage-

aviary.


Many aviculturists would be quite content to own only the

inhabitants of the Gallerie des Oiseaux, as it is now called, where once

the gallants of the time of Henri IV of France paraded, when it was

known as the Gallerie des Seigneurs. Opening the door at the farther

end, one finds oneself on the terrace, raised high above the drive below,

which leads one to the beautiful fifteenth century portion of the chateau

or rather annexe, a charmingly picturesque building in stone, ancient

red brick, and red-painted half-timbers of true Norman style of that

period. Steeply pitched roofs of mellowed tiles, and two turrets, from

the narrow windows of which one expects to see some lady of the

time of Henri IV looking down upon one, add to the charm, and if

a troubadour in doublet and hosen came strolling by playing his viol,



