The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-01-07
a MAMMOTH BIRD CAGE.
An Avlnry Which IL u Miniature Forest
Full OF Fcathcrod Occupants.

fuiI OF Fcathcrod Occupants.
California may we'll boast of its big
trees, its water falls OF tho Yosemite,
and its mammoth fruit and vegetable
products, but IL has added another
laurel to its crown in possessing tho
largest aviary III tho world, says tho
San Francisco Chronicle. An hours
journey from San Francisco by watcrand
rail brings one TO tho quiet littlo town
OF San Pablo. in Contra Costa County.
and short drive from there is the old
and wcli-hnown Alvarada Rancho, now
owned by Henry f. Erncric. Over an
area OF two thousand five hundred acres
OF fertile ground arc scattered orchards
and wheat fields that yield wonderful
crops. and near tho center OF this
domain is tho old homo of MIR. Emcric's
father, now deceased. 1t is a quaint
structure, with shaded vcrandas, and its
roof is robed ~ present with q mantle
OF pure white Castilian roses. Fronting
tho house are parterrcs Of choice flowers
of innumcrablo kinds, bright with
color and as fragrant as tho brccze-
waited odors of Coylon. There are. in
fact, three hundred and ten varieties Of
roses alono to be seen. and in tho con-
soryato-y there arc faro orchids and
othor valuable plants.
Through the vista of weeping willows
and peach and apple trees, heavily laden
with believers and winter Nollios,
the aviary is seen. This feature OF tho
place is an airy structure OF closely
Noted wiro, sustained ct intervals of
fifteen feet by wooden uprights, form
ing perfect cage. 1t is ono hundred
and scvcnty-iivo foot long and sixty
feet wido. Within its confines is q
miniature forest of ounce trocs, the
tops Of which emerge through the not
ting. This, in addition to y covert OF
thick brush, affords admirable shelter
for tho birds in summer, whilo
in tho winter they havo tho uso OF q
largo house that is in tho cago for their
protection against the elements. With
commcndablc foresight Mr. Emcric has
stocked this aviary with English pleas
an and Chinese golden phcasants, and
there arc hundreds ofquail there, merely
as n sido is NC. Mr.. Emoric estimates
that he will have four hundred pleas
ants next season, and he proposes to set
loose one hundred or moro Of them each
year to run wild through tho country,
ohu VIII bl'e tliIlf away 10 LDOSc VINO
desire to propagate thom- This will, OF
course. be OF great benefit to oil lovers
of bird-shooting, and besides will assist
materially in increasing the number of
what arc now raro species Of fowl in
this State. The pheasants arc fed with
wheat and occasionally chopped liver is
given to them. They arc crossed with
bantam hons, tho result being game
cocks that are as pugnacious us their
Imported Sircs, and the pheasant is nota-
bly, fighting bird. The golden pleas
ants arc only fitted for an nviary, and
occupy the position that u Scvres vase
does in drawing-room.
Mr. Emcric has just completed nego-
tiations to have q largo invoice of bob
whites sent to him from tho East next
spring, and then he will increase tho
proportions of his aviary to threo times
its present si2o. This bird is similar to
our California quail, only littlo larger,
and Is better favored. 1t is great IA
vorite with Eastern hunters, and will he
gladly welcomed by local sportsmcn.
Tho Same course will be pursued with
these birds, rs with tho phcasants Tho
propagation of these valuable and inter
estinG birds is 4 hobby with Mr.. EN-
eric, an expensive ono naturally, but
one that he can afford, and his efforts
should receive tho earnest support of all
those who arc Interested in tho intro
daction OF now birds on this coast.