POULTRY-HOUSES. 243 



The royal poultry-house is a simple, but at the same time 

 beautiful building, of a semi-Gothic character. It consists of a 

 central pavilion, flanked by roosting-places, and breeding and 

 laying nests. The pavilion is used as a spot whence the fowl 

 can be conveniently inspected, and is surmounted by an elegant 

 pigeon-house, remarkable for its lining of looking-glasses, in 

 which pigeons delight to gaze, and before which they are con- 

 stantly pruning and dressing themselves. 



The ground slopes in front towards the park, and is divided 

 by slight wire fences into yards, as walks or places for the daily 

 exercise of the fowl ; these wards are laid out in gravel-walks 

 or grass-plots, the former leading to the entrance of the houses. 

 The apartments are large and airy ; the fittings and general 

 economy of the house have been carefully regulated with refer- 

 ence to the natural habits of the birds ; an equal temperature is 

 constantly maintained ; and in form and structure the nests are 

 made, as much as possible, to resemble the close and bramble- 

 covered recesses which would form the dwelling of poultry in 

 a state of nature. 



LORD PENRHYN'S POULTRY-HOUSE. 



Perhaps one of the most splendid poultry-houses that has ever 

 been erected is that of Lord Penrhyn, at Winnington, in Che- 

 shire. It consists of a regular and handsome front, about one 

 hundred and forty feet in length, having at each end a neat 

 pavilion, with a large arched window. These pavilions are 

 united to the centre of the design by a colonnade of small cast- 

 iron pillars, painted white, which support a cornice and a slate 

 roof, covering a paved walk, and a variety of conveniences for the 

 poultry, for keeping corn, eggs, &c. The doors into these are 

 all of lattice- work, painted white, in green' framing. In the mid- 

 dle of the front are four handsome stone columns, and four pilas- 

 ters, supporting, also, a cornice and a slate roof, under which, 



