Xviii PROCEEDINGS. 



building known as the " glass house," a light and ornamental structure 

 of painted wood-work and glass used as a green-house and aviary for 

 rare tropical birds, an aquarium room, and a museum; and from the 

 summit of the tower can' be obtained a beautiful view of the grounds and 

 the surrounding scenery.* 



The aquarium is very attractive; a constant stream of water, derived 

 from a more elevated pond, flows through all its compartments. Here 

 may be seen many inhabitants of our lakes and streams the silver dace 

 and the yellow perch, in all respects similar to the English species save 

 in his bright golden hue; the cat-fish of hideous mien, whose wide, gaping 

 jaws and voracity render him the tyrant of the lake; the little terrapin 

 or mud turtle of our alluvial rivers basking on semi-submerged rock-work 

 with gorgeously coloured species from other climes; and several other 

 amphibious reptiles, including the yellow-throated and leopard frogs, and 

 the large yellow-spotted salamander common to our little rocky pools by 

 the road-side, though seldom seen, as it is strictly nocturnal in its habits. 

 But now let us glance at the birds of prey encaged close by. A splen- 

 did pair of bald-headed eagles at once arrest our attention, though they 

 have not arrived at the mature age necessary to produce the condition of 

 plumage from which their misnomer, " bald-headed," has been derived. In 

 the adult bird the head, neck and tail become pure white; the pointed 

 hackles of the neck laying in sharp regularity on the close bronze plumage 

 of the bird's body. The iris, beak, nostrils and legs assume a bright 

 golden orange hue. This is the chosen emblem of the United States the 

 bird of America. The description given of its habit of depriving the 

 osprey of its finny prey, by the great ornithologist of this continent. 

 Wilson, is a beautiful piece of composition; as likewise is that of Audubon, 

 the subject of which is the eagle's attacK upon the wild swan in mid-air. 

 There is about this bird an unmistakable air of fierceness and Intractabil- 

 ity; and it continually indulges in a habit of throwing back its head and 

 giving vent to screams of defiance which must strike terror into the 

 breasts of the captives around. 



In adjacent cages sit several specimens of our native birds of wisdom 



the owls. These are the great horned owls whose deep-toned hooting 

 emanating from the dark spruce swamps is so familiar to the sojourner in 

 tjhe woods. Heard on a calm, still nignt in the forest, this sound is most 

 impressive, and, though so connected with melancholy associations, it 

 brings with it nevertheless a strange feeling of pleasure, probably owing 

 to the mournful notes harmonizing with the mystery with which our 

 imagination delights to invest the woods at night, especially when fitfully 

 illumined by the moon. There is a dapper little owl of this species quite 

 a beau, trim in plumage and wide-awake confined in one of these cages, 

 who will treat us to some of his music whenever we approach him; and 

 we see, if we look closely, that in emitting the sound, the bill is not opened 

 * The glass-house is now (1908) almost in ruins. 



