The common pigeon, of which there are many varieties, may be kept in a small house, in a manner similar to common fowls; but it succeeds better in buildings somewhat elevated, or in low buildings in which the place of entrance is made in the roof; because pigeons fly higher than any other domesticated birds. A very convenient situation is a loft over some other building, or when there are various outbuildings, a turret may be added where it will have a good effect in an architectural point of view, and the interior turned into a place for pigeons. All the firing up requisite is to place nests against the wall; these nests consist of open boxes, about a foot square, with the lower side projecting 3 or 4 inches, for the birds to light upon. The best food for pigeons is peas, bat they will eat oats and barley like the common fowl. Where pigeons have not an extensive range, it is common to place in the pigeon-house a lump composed of lime rubbish, loam, salt, and other matters, for them to peck at occasionally, and which it is found prevents them from eating the lime from chimney tops, and other parts of buildings which they frequent. In general, a pigeon-house may always be made an ornamental object, whether it forms a detached building, or an appendage to other offices.

As young pigeons are highly valued in the kitchen for pies, and full-grown ones for substantial, savoury, and stimulating food, a pigeon-house is a very desirable appendage to every suburban residence that has land attached; but, where there is no land, it is scarcely fair to keep pigeons, as they must necessarily live on our neighbours.

449. The aviary is an enclosure which should always, if possible, be of considerable extent, containing houses for different kinds of birds. These houses may be small rustic structures, each with an enclosed court, and covered with netting or wirework, to prevent the birds from flying away, as well as to prevent the intrusion of other birds in a wild state. In these small enclosures the young are reared; and, when full-grown, they are allowed during the day to go at large in the aviary ground. An aviary, where there are five or six different kinds of birds to be kept, should never be attempted where there is less than an acre of ground; because few things disfigure either grass or plants so much as a superabundance of fowls among them, while the injury to the birds themselves, for want of space for exercise, is proportionately great The birds commonly kept in aviaries in the neighbourhood of London are, gold and silver pheasants, partridges, quails; red, black, and wood grouse; pigeons, turtle-doves, Muscovy ducks, the Canadian goose, the bustard, gulls, and curious varieties of the common fowl, such as bantams, etc. There is however no limit to the number of species and varieties of birds that may be kept in aviaries, provided there are abundance of space, and ample pecuniary means.

A number of the exotic birds require artificial heat in their roosting-places during the winter season; bat this is not the case with the kinds mentioned above as commonly kept in aviaries. The handsomest places of this kind that we know, near London, are at Woburn Abbey in Bedfordshire, and at Cobham Hall in Kent There was formerly a tolerably complete aviary at the Duke of Devonshire's villa, at Chiswick; but it has been given up for the last ten years. The most complete aviary in England for singing birds, is at Knowlesly Hall, near Liverpool.

450. The moan is one of the greatest living ornaments to a piece of water of two or three acres in extent; and it is useful in keeping the surface of the water free from weeds. Swans require very little care from man, except that of feeding them during severe weather in winter, and having a small house for the protection of their young. Whenever there is a considerable piece of water in the grounds of a residence, there may not only be swans, but ducks of different kinds, curious geese, gulls, and other aquatic fowls. The swans, as we have above observed, are useful for keeping the water free from weeds, and the others for keeping the adjoining grounds free from worms, slogs, snails, etc.