58 



AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 



February, 1908 











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An Indian White Deer Is One of the Notable 

 Animals of the Farm 



The Snow-white Peacock Is One of the Loveliest of Creatures 

 and Always Interesting 



broids" — a most graceful and charming animal, bred between 

 a zebra and a donkey. These hybrids were regularly used in 

 harness by Lady Alington, but they did not live long; and as 

 the sole survivor threatened to die of sheer inactivity, he was 

 handed over to the village baker, who uses him to this day in 

 the work of distributing bread to the countryside. 



You will be shown a collection of superb Angora sheep 

 and pigmy bulls from India, as well as those immense moun- 

 tain goats known as "ovis poli" from the little-known moun- 

 tain regions of Kashgar in Central Asia. Several of the 

 governors of the Australian colonies have contributed snow- 

 white kangaroos, which are quite the pet of Crichel — espe- 

 cially the little ones, who are allowed complete freedom, and 

 will often leap out of a thicket of lilac with disconcerting 

 suddenness. 



Of white rabbits and guinea pigs there must be nearly a 

 thousand; and one can only briefly mention in passing the 

 magnificent ostriches from South Africa, the snow-white tur- 

 key cocks and ducks, fowls and even pigs. The pigeon 

 houses were especially interesting. In the first place they 

 were a model of spotless cleanliness and snow-white enamel. 

 The whole farm appears to be alive with them, and the 

 sight of their colonies whirling in mid air above their cotes 

 at feeding time is one of the most charming sights imaginable. 



When one of the keepers whistles, a veritable cloud of 

 snow-white pigeons will almost obliterate the sun and then 

 swoop down to the ground, making the air fairly vibrate 

 with the whirl and swish of their sword-like wings. 



There are in the White Farm many albinos of a very 

 peculiar kind — white jackdaws and blackbirds, for instance. 

 There are dozens of big Swiss goats, and even Thibetan 

 yaks — those curious hairy dwarf cattle which are ridden like 

 horses and bear packs like mules in the high passes of the 

 Himalayas, between India, Thibet and China. 



There are parrot and cockatoo houses filled with the 

 customary snow-white birds; and even the very pigs of 

 Crichel are decidedly white, and what is still more remark- 

 able, they contrive to keep themselves so. The white deer 

 from India and Central Africa are extremely rare and timid 

 creatures; and next door to them will be seen innumerable 

 white Leghorn poultry. 



Lady Alington is famed all over Great Britain for poultry 

 keeping and rearing. She has won many prizes at interna- 

 tional shows, and made a reputation that extends on to the 

 Continent of Europe with her wonderful bantams. There 

 are white donkeys at Crichel, too; a flock of white Sebastopol 

 geese, and, of course, scores of lovely graceful swans upon 

 the lakes. Among the rarer birds are a number of pure 

 white sparrows from the far-off island of Java, with red 

 beaks and pinkish eyes. Some time ago there were several 

 white thrushes, but these did not live long. 



The White Farm is looked after by three married couples, 

 with subordinate attendants; and the entire staff are evi- 

 dently enthusiastic in carrying out her ladyship's wishes in 

 the matter of most scrupulous cleanliness and close attention 

 to all their pretty charges. 



A Flock of Sebastopol Geese Passing Before the White Pigeon House 



White Angora Goats and the White Indian Bull 



