Page:An Encyclopædia of Cottage, Farm, and Villa Architecture and Furniture.djvu/999

 AVIARIES AND MENAGERIES. 97-5 thick white marble table, raised about two feet above the floor ; on tliis table are placed the dishes of new milk. These dishes are of an oblong shape, having at one extremity the edge turned over in the shape of a lip, to facilitate the pouring out of the milk. Large vases and jars of coloured china are placed as ornaments on the marble shelving round the walls. ( Quart. Journ. Ag., vol. vi. p. 158.) Sect. V. Aviaries and Menageries. 1949. Aviaries are of two kinds; those for birds of song, and those for birds of show or curiosity. The former are not very common in Britain ; but, where they do exist, they are usually joined to conservatories. Their general form and style should harmo- nise with those of the house ; no particular shape or dimensions are requisite, but it is always desirable to have the whole or a part of the roof of glass ; to have glass win- dows on, at least, two sides ; and to have a complete lining of wire network within every window and door, in order to prevent the escape of the birds, and the ingress of vermin when the sashes are open for ventilation. There should also be a porch with double doors, for the same purpose. Sometimes aviaries are formed on a large scale, and include trees, shrubs, tm-f, and water ; the whole being covered with wire netting. In this case, the extent ought to be considerable, and the birds few, otherwise the trees and shrubs will soon be injured, and the whole place rendered unsightly. Where the object is simply to hear the song of the birds, it is found a more effective and cleanly plan to distiibute a few cages up and down a conservatory ; or along a veranda. The birds are found to sing better when they are within hearing, but not within sight, of each other ; and the cages prevent that appearance of dirt on the trees, plants, and paths, which is generally offensive in a crowded aviary. To prevent the possibility of any dirt, seeds, &:c., being thrown down from birds in cages, the latter may be constructed with a small cellar or box from four to eight inches deep in the bottom ; in which alone food and water may be placed, the bird descending through an opening in the upper floor to eat his food, and ascending again by a small stair or ladder. This construction is found effectually to prevent birds from scattering the husks of their seeds ; and we have seen the same prin- ciple applied on a large scale in chamber and conservatory aviaries, where the birds are kept in niches, with fronts of open wirework, by forming concealed recesses in the sides of the niches, where alone the birds can take their food. 1 950. Aviaries for Birds of Show and Curiosity are not uncommon appendages to English villas. The tender exotic birds are kept in structures with windows to the south, and heated during winter by flues, or steam or hot-water pipes, as in the extensive aviary at Knowlesly, near Liverpool ; and in those of the Zoological Gardens, London. Birds which will endure the open air of Britain, are confined in rustic structures resembling large cages or hen-coops covered with netting, and containing small houses for the birds to retire into during the night, or heavy rains. These cages or coops often contain trees and shrubs, which are renewed as they become injured or decayed. The most complete aviaries of this kind in England are at Woburn Abbey. Some of them, as at Knowlesly, and in the Zoological Gai'dens, include enclosed basins for aquatic fowls. Those who desire more information on this head will find it in the published descriptions of the London Zoological Gardens. A description of the SuiTey Zoological Gardens, with the ground plan and elevation of a circular building with a glass roof, combining at once a conservatory, aviary, menagerie, and a running stream stocked with exotic fish, will be found in the Gard. Mag., vol. viii. p. 693. 1951. Menageries are sometimes found in villa residences, and, when combined with aviaries for hardy terrestrial birds, and formed on a large scale, with all the birds and animals in one enclosure, are much more interesting than aviaries or menageries where the birds and animals are confined in separate structures. The finest we know in Eng- land is at Cobham Hall, in Kent; where the kangai-oo, the opossum, the zebra, the quagga, several kinds of goats, sheep, and deer, the ostrich, the emu, the cassowary, and many other birds and beasts, live in harmony together on a lawn of several acres, finely ornamented by foreign trees and shrubs, and surrounded by a wire fence fifteen feet high. There are suitable ornamental structures for the animals to retire into, and constant attendants to see that they are properly provided with food, and that they do not injure one another. In a mixed aviary and menagerie of this kind at Chiswick, the Duke of Devonshire had lately a great many species of aquatic fowls, a bear, several kinds of monkeys, and an elephant ; the last being kept in an appropriate house, heated during winter. Sect. VI. Architectural Conservatories. 1952. Conservatories are most desirable additions to villas, as indicating the residence of ease and elegance ; as affording a useful source of exercise and recreation during