2226. The verdant aviary is that in which, in addition to houses for the different sorts of birds, a net or wire curtain is thrown over the tops of trees, and supported by light posts or hollow rods, so as to enclose a few poles, or even acres, of ground, and water in various forms. In this the birds in fine weather sing on the trees, the aquatic birds sail on the water, or the gold pheasants stroll over the lawn, and in severe seasons they betake themselves to their respective houses or cages. Such an enclosed space will of course contain evergreen, as well as deciduous trees, rocks, reeds, aquatics, long grass for larks and partridges, spruce firs for pheasants, furze-bushes for linnets, &c. An aviary, somewhat in this way, was formed at Knowsley in Lancashire; and by Catherine of Russia, in the Hermitage Palace. In short, these are the only sorts admissible in elegant gardens; since nothing surely to one who is not an enthusiast in this branch of natural history, can be more disagreeable than an apartment filled with the dirt and discordant music of innumerable birds, such, for example, as the large aviary at Kew. Birds from the hot climates are sometimes kept in hothouses among their native plants, as in the large conservatories at Alton in Britain, and at Vienna. In this case, the doors and openings for giving air must be covered with wire-cloth, and the number must not be great, otherwise they will too much disfigure the plants with their excrement
