BOOK III. 



AVIARY, &c. 



347 



country, and in what age, appears uncertain. They are highly prized in China, and 

 seem there to confer about a similar degree of dignity to a house and family as does a 

 large conservatory in this country ; for in the altercations which took place during Lord 

 Amherst's embassy, it was stated, on the part of the emperor, that Sir George Staunton 

 had profited greatly from China, and had built himself a house and an aviary. That 

 they were in use in England in Evelyn's time, is evident from a memorandum entered 

 in his diary, that the Marquis of Argyle took the parrots in his aviary at Sayes' Court 

 for owls. _ 



1761. The canary or syging-bird aviary used not unfrequently to be formed in the 

 opaque-roofed green-house or conservatory, by enclosing one or both ends with a 

 partition of wire ; and furnishing them with dead or living trees, or spray and branches 

 suspended from the roof for the birds to perch on. Such are chiefly used for the canary, 

 bullfinch, linnet, &c. 



1 762. The parrot aviary is generally a building formed on purpose, with a glass roof, 

 front, and ends ; with shades and curtains to protect it from the sun and frost, and a 

 flue for winter heating. In these, artificial or dead trees with glazed foliage are fixed 

 in the floor, and sometimes cages hung on them ; and at other times the birds allowed to 

 fly loose. An aviary of this sort was built at Morden by the late Abraham Goldschmidt. 



1763. The verdant aviary is that in which, in addition to houses for the different sort^ 

 of birds, a net or wire curtain is thrown over the tops of trees, and supported by light 

 posts or hollow rods, so as to enclose a few poles, or even acres of ground, and water in. 

 various forms. In this the birds in fine weather sing on the trees, the aquatic birds sail 

 on the water, or the gold-pheasants stroll over the lawn, and in severe seasons they be- 

 take themselves to their respective houses or cages. Such an enclosed space will of 

 course contain evergreen, as well as deciduous trees, rocks, reeds, aquatics, long grass 

 for larks and partridges, spruce firs for pheasants, furze-bushes for linnets, &c. An 

 aviary, somewhat in this way, was formed by Catherine of Russia, in the Hermitage 

 Palace ; and at Knowlsley in Lancashire. In short these are the only sorts admissible 

 in elegant gardens ; since nothing surely to one who is not an enthusiast in this branch 

 of natural history, can be more disagreeable than an apartment filled with the dirt and 

 discordant music of innumerable birds, such, for example, as the large aviary at Kew. 

 Birds from the hot climates are sometimes kept in hot-houses among their native plants, 

 as in the large conservatories at Vienna. (218.) In this case, the doors and openings 

 for giving air must be covered with wire cloth, and the number must not be great, other- 

 wise they will too much disfigure the plants with their excrement. 



1764. Gallinaceous aviary. At Chiswick, portable netted enclosures, from ten to 

 twenty feet square, are distributed over a part of the lawn, and display a curious col- 

 lection of domestic fowls. In each enclosure is a small wooden box or house for shel- 

 tering the animals during night, or in severe weather, and for breeding. .. Each cage or 

 enclosure is contrived to contain one or more trees or shrubs ; and water and food are 

 supplied in small basins and appropriate vessels. Curious varieties of aquatic fowls 

 might be placed on floating aviaries on a lake or pond. 



300 1765. Wire-cages. In a flower-garden 



or pleasure-ground where the object is the 

 singing of birds, much the most effectual 

 mode is to distribute over it a number of 

 common-sized cages containing different 

 sorts of birds. They may either be hung 

 on trees or fixed to iron rods. (Jig- 300.) 

 The more hardy sorts of British birds 

 may remain there during night, and the 

 more delicate sorts and canaries taken in 

 either by removing the cage only or the 

 cage and rod together (fig. 301.), and 

 placing or fixing it in a shed or conserv- 

 atory. 



1766. Menageries were formerly attach- 

 ed to most of the royal gardens and parks 

 of Europe. The most complete example 

 is that of the Paris garden, constructed 

 and arranged, as much as possible, ac- 

 cording to the natures and habits of the different animals enclosed. 

 The subject, however, can hardly be considered within our depart- 

 ment. 



1767. The piscinary, cochlearium, ranarium, columbarium, &c. 

 belong to that part of rural economy which forms the connecting link 

 between rural and domestic economy. 



301 



ffc 

 $1 



