Aviary

Aviary, a place for keeping birds. Amongst the Romans, the name aviarium was sometimes used of a place for keeping and fattening birds meant to be killed for food. The arrangements of an aviary depend upon the habits of its inmates, the climate suited to them, and other circumstances. A large room may be fitted up as an aviary, with complete arrangements for heating and ventilation, and with perches resembling trees and branches, patches of sand or gravel, secluded places for nesting, and a trough of clear water; or in the open air a large space may be included within the network, with actual trees and grass, and running water. In such spacious aviaries birds may be expected to thrive and breed better than in a bird-cage, which is a small aviary. Large aviaries are often to be seen in zoological gardens.