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J. Delacour—American Aviculture



favourable to birds in general. But on tbe other side of the Bay, and

farther north and south, the temperature rises in the summer and

drops in the winter, being comparable, I think, to the south-west of

France. It suits Game birds perfectly.


In the San Francisco district there are many private aviaries,

and I visited a number of them. Many amateurs have from one to

twenty pens, with nice collections of small birds, Doves and Parrakeets,

also a few Quails and Pheasants. Some are more important and I

should mention a few.


Mr. C. C. Broadwater, a Vice-President of the Avicultural Society

of America, has a fine collection at Oakland. Several large and high

aviaries, adjoining the house, are the home of many Australian and

other Finches, which breed freely, and also Tanagers, etc. In another

part of the garden there are rows of aviaries, mostly for Parrakeets,

and among many rarities I noticed three young Pileated. There are

high shelters heated by electricity on a thermostat system, which seems

to be very satisfactory.


Mrs. H. S. Bonestell has also a very interesting collection in several

groups of aviaries, built on extensive grounds on the bank of a narrow,

wooded valley, where lots of wild birds, especially Californian Quail,

are very tame owing to protection. Tanygnathus and Eclectus Parrots

breed regularly with her. I noticed particularly excellent Cissas and

Fairy Bluebirds. Mrs. Bonestell is a great traveller in Eastern Asia

and the South Seas, and she has brought home many rare birds.


On the south side of San Francisco, at Los Altos, Mr. R. A. Isemberg,

whose name is well known in aviculture, has large aviaries where he

keeps and breeds many rare softbills, Touracous, etc. Unfortunately,

I was not able to visit him this time owing to sudden change in the

date of my sailing. He is now moving to a new and larger place.


For an Old World aviculturist, one collection is of very great interest,

that of Mr. Eric Kinsey, at Manor, in a cool and shady canyon of

Marin County, north of the Bay of San Francisco. Mr. Kinsey, the

present president of the Cooper Club, is an excellent ornithologist,

who knows as much of wild Californian birds as anyone on earth.

But, quite rightly, he believes that there is a great deal more to be

learned of the habits and behaviour of birds by keeping them in



