Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-01-01
a MAMMoTH BIRD CAGE
An Aviary Which Is . Miniature Forest
Full of Feathered Occupants.

An Aviary Which Is o Miniature Forest
Full of Feathered Occupants.
California may we'll boast of its big
trees, its waterfalls of the Yosemite,
and its mammoth fruit and vegetable
products, but it has added anotheri
laurel to its crown in possessing tho
largest aviary in the world, says the
San Francisco Chronicle. An hours
journey from San Francisco by water and
rail brings one to the quiet little town
of San Pablo, in Contra Costa County,
and short drive from there is the old
and well-known Alvarada Rancho, now
owned by Henry T. Emeric. Over an
area of two thousand five hundred acres
of fertile ground are scattered orchards
and wheat fields that yield wonderful
crops, and near the center of this
domain is the old home of Mr.. Emeric's
father, now deceased. 1t is a quaint
structure, with shaded verandas, and it's
roof is robed at present with mantle
of pure white Castilian roses. Fronting
the house are parterres of choice flowers
of innumerable kinds, bright with
color and as fragrant as the breeze
waited odors of Ceylon. There are, in
fact, three hundred and ten varieties of
roses alone to be seen, and in the con-
servatory there are rare orchids and
other valuable plants.
Through the vista of weeping willows
and peach and apple trees, heavily laden
with bellhowers and winter Nellies,
the aviary is seen. This feature of the
place is an airy structure of closely
netted wire, sustained at intervals of
fifteen feet by wooden uprights, form
ing a perfect cage. 1t is one hundred
and seventy-five feet long and sixty
feet wide. Within it's confines is
miniature forest of ounce trees, the
tops Of which emerge through the net
ting. This, in addition to covert of
thick brush, affords admirable shelter
for the birds in summer, while
in the winter they have the use of
large house that is in the cage for their
protection against the elements. With
commcndRblo foresight Mr.. Emeric has
stocked this ayiary with English pleas
! ans and Chinese golden pheasants, and
| there arc hundreds of quail there, merely
, as q side issue. Mr.. Emeric estimates
that he will have four hundred pleas
ants next season, and he proposes to set
| loose one hundl I'd or more of them each
year to run wild through the country,
| and Will give many away to those who
| desire to propagate them. This will, of
| course, be of great benefit to all lovers
| of bird-ShO0t:nr, and besides will assist
materially in increasing the number Of
what ara now 4 rare species of fowl in
this c;:at0. The phcasants are fed with
whca: and occasionally chopped liver is
! given to thtm. They are crossed with
| bantam h,'ns, the result being game
| cocks that are as pugnacious as their
imported sires, and the pheasant is nota-
bly, fighting bird. The golden pleas
i ants are only fitted for an aviary, and
occupy the position that Sevres vase
! does in a drawing-room.
Mr.. Emcric has just completed nego-
tiations to navo 10 large invoice of bob
whites sent to him from the East next
spring, and then he will increase tho
proportions OF his aviary to three times
its present size. This bird is similar to
our California quail, only little larger,
and is better Favored. 1t is q great IA
| vOrite with Eastern hunters, and will be
gladly welcomed by local sportsmen.
The same course will be pursued with
these birds, as with the pheasants. The
| propagation of these valuable and inter-
estng birds is a hobby with Mr.. En-
eric, an expensive one naturally, but
one that he can afford, and his efforts
should receive the earnest support Of all
those who are interested in the intro.
duction OF new birds on this coast.