J. Delacour—American Aviculture



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The caretaker of this fine house has been for many years Mr. Stassey,

who worked first at the London Zoo and, no doubt, one of the keenest

and most capable bird-keepers I know.


I am glad to say that the Bronx Zoo authorities contemplate adding

a new bird-house with large indoor and outdoor aviaries in the near

future.


There is a good collection of Pheasants, and also of other Game birds;

a pair of the curious ‘‘ Stone ” Curassows, or Pauxis, must be mentioned.

Parrots and Pigeons are numerous, some of them very rare. Waterfowl

are rather poor, but there are good Waders. During the winter, most

have to be kept in large indoor cages, and there are several big houses

for that purpose.


On account of the climate few of the smaller birds are reared in

captivity in the East, but there are a number of private breeders of

Game-birds and Waterfowl. Thanks to Mr. Maresi’s kindness I visited

the most important and successful farms. Almost all of them are semi- or

completely commercial. Many are situated in New England, the very

picturesque and beautiful country which extends from north-east of

New York City to the Canadian border. In October, the densely wooded

hills and valleys are bright with autumnal colours, gold, pink, and

scarlet, such as we never see in Europe, and can compare with those of

Japan. We motored long distances along fine roads, passing through

pretty towns and villages, the white-painted wooden houses looking

“ colonial ” and so pretty under the drooping branches of large

American elms and maples which grow everywhere.


In the north of Massachussets, near Great Barrington, we saw the

game farm of Mr. F. Yessler, who breeds successfully most species of

hardy Pheasants, including Mikados and Edwards. All do well in this

cold climate, and we saw many young birds. Mr. Yessler is now using

exclusively electric brooders for his chicks, and so avoids all contagion

from broody hens. But all his eggs are incubated under hens, so that

he does almost exactly the reverse of many other breeders. He declares

that, in this way, he never fails to rear a healthily born chick.


Mr. Yessler’s pheasantry for adult birds consists of two adjoining

rows of pens, of moderate size (10 to 15 by 20 to 30 feet), with an open

shelter running along one of the narrow sides, the whole lot forming


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