Palestine daily herald. [volume] (Palestine, Tex.) 1902-1949, 1905-04-06
A PALACE FOR BIRDS
Fine Housing For a New York
Park Collection.
TWO LARGE EXHIBITION HALLS.

Most Novel Feature of the Building
Is the Roof, Constructed Entirely
of Glass-Great Flying Cage With
Fountains, Pools and Growing
PIants-Arfd Conditions For Bird
OF the Desert.
There is now nearing completion In
the New York geological park a new
house for birds which bids fair to be
unique among such buildings In the
United States, If not indeed in the
world, says c. William Beebe In the
New York Post 1t will consist Of two
large exhibition halls, built in the shape
of an L, one, the parrot room, meas
uring sixty-five feet in length, while
the main hall is seventy-seven feet long
by fifty feet wide, and about thirty-six
feet to the apex Of the roof. These
rooms are lined all around with spa
cious cages, nine to twelve feet in
height The most novel feature of this
building is the roof, which is construct
ed entirely of glass, giving the impress
sion of q great conservatory. Indeed,
it is intended that large number of
plants and vines shall be grown here,
thus happily combining a profusion of
flowers with brightly colored, singing
birds. In the center OF the main hall
is large flying cage. Is by SO feet by
is in height, which Will contain three
or four hundred birds of many species.
1t is provided with u good sized shall
low bathing pool, and when the minia-
ture fountain is playing and the birds
flying and singing among the branches
of the trees which will be provided
the sight will be beautiful one.
Besides the indoor cages there are
nineteen outdoor ones for the harder
birds, such as those which live in cold
regions. In all there will be over sew
enty-fve Enclosures. All the decora-
tons have been carefully worked out
with regard TO their appropriateness.
For example, a terra Gotta frieze of
cockatoos extending quite around the
outside Of the building, with figures of
horned owls at the corners.
In this splendid building, which will
be as light as the woods and fields
themselves, many interesting families
of birds will be housed Among these
are the thrushes, nightingales, war
blers, hooking birds, titmice, bulbuls,
orioles, tanagers, finches, waxbills,
weaver birds. buntings, starlings, bow
er birds, crows, jays, larks, hornbills
and toucans, woodpeckers, cuckoos,
cockatoos, macaws, parrots and para
smaller quail, the sandpipers and the
plover and many others.
In addition to this house q glass
court will soon be built which will oc-
cupy the space between the arms of |
I1iss UP t~-rsI-ss---n-
Der of cages to 115
There are many ingenious devices |
which have been planned especially for |
this building. Each cage has its sepa- |
rate porcelain drinking and bathing ba-
sin, each controlled by Individual wa
ter pipes. The meshes of the cage
wires are great deal larger than is
usual in bird cages. the intention being
TO give an open effect and unobstruct-
ed view without allowing the birds TO
escape through the wires. The cages
Will be filled with growing plants and
turf, and these will be as appropriate
as possible. For instance, desert birds
VIII have sand, mesquite and cacti to
make them feel at home: wading birds
will have large pools with cattails and
water plants.
The cage doors are all at the back
ana Keepers passage extends behind
the cages, thus making it possible to
Keep all the cleaning operations out Of
sight and allowing the keepers to have
iccess to any of the cages without dis
urblng visitors in front OF the cages.
A SAND shaft or shoot leads down into
he cellar, from which an underground
unnel extends TO the outside roadway.
so a cart can drive right into the cellar
~ means of this arrangement. bring
ng grain or other supplies and carting
way refuse sand.
There are feed rooms and q keepers 1
Dom and spacious Office for the cura-
or. besides set of rooms ON the sec
md floor for hospitals, experiments
nd laboratory work.
There is not a small cage in the
uilding. and the birds, which will !
costly be young ones, should live ana .
hrive and build their nests in this :
Wan palace. provided with the best
'ater and food. protected from storm
nd from enemies and given plenty of =
lnlight, the sight of flowers and green
lants and abundance Of room in which :,
, fly about. U
- 1 Z.