The Birdhouse

The Birdhouse. . Greene Smith’s beloved “Bird House,” with its rustic hemlock bark exterior, gave little hint about of the wonders that lay inside. Here, trained ivy spelled “Ornithon” at the doorway to one of the world’s greatest ornithological collections of its era. , Inside, a fountain holding live fish bubbled at the foot of a magnificent mahogany staircase leading to the second floor atrium, with its miniature duck pond on the right and a running stream on the left. Live songbirds flew beneath banks of skylights from all parts of the globe, ever-changing exhibits showcased thousands of stuffed birds and big game specimens. Other displays indicated further passions; the first guns, fishing tackle, taxidermy equipment and other tools, as well as a kennel, and elite library, and superb artwork. The basement housed Greene’s state-of-the-art taxidermy laboratory. , In addition to Greene’s many personal pals, the Bird House often hosted family and community parties, sportsmen’s meetings, political gatherings, even world-famous visitors. Most would never see anything else like it. , After walking some two or three hundred yards down a gravel walk we came to a large building in Gothic rustic style, the sides covered in hemlock bark. On the rustic door is the word “Ornithon” in ivy. The building is in the form of the letter T, the main part being one and a half stories high and 56 x 30 feet; the L is one story, and 25 x 40 feet on the ground. The entrance is in the center of the L portion of the building. In the center of this room, immediately in front of the door, is a large double desk, surrounded by statuettes, and containing writing materials, with inkstands and study appliances, all rich, and in modern taste. On the timbers over the desk are carved an immense pair of elk antlers, from which depended Sharps and Spencer rifles, with game bag, riding whip, powder flasks, horns, rod, creel and other sporting implements; also a riding whip which Mr. Smith said once belonged to a soldier in Stuart’s cavalry. The sides of the room are hidden by immense glass cases, the one on the right containing specimens of skins, duck, teal, snipe, and other game birds; also a large variety of song birds, herons, swans, etc., in a fine state of preservation. Behind this case is a gun-rack filled with drawers, containing ammunition, shot, wads, shells and shooting fixings. The case on the other side of the room is of the same size, and contains some of the finest mounted specimens we had seen. Among them were the English woodcock, European kingfisher, cuckoo, whooping crane (of which there are very few specimens in this country), a pair of black swans from Australia, a roseate spoonbill, monster owls, hawks, pigeons and other birds, with sundry foxes and quadrupeds, many rare shells and curiosities of various kinds. Behind this case is a well-filled book-case, containing a good collection of modern literature, in which are the best books and many rare works in sporting and natural history. , The entrance to the main building is about fifteen or twenty feet wide and in the center stands a beautiful fountain of cool water with a few speckled beauties sporting in the crystal flood. A grand wide stairway leads to the upper part of the main building, and on either side are large rustic rooms enclosed with wire screens. The room on the right had a rocky bed, with a stream of water flowing through, and was exclusively for songbirds, and would accommodate upward of a hundred without crowding their movement. On the left, in the main, is a miniature pond, with rock work arranged especially for ducks and other aquatic birds. Beyond this is a large wire room used as a kennel. , We turn to the right, and there find a loading table for guns and ammunition, and in a cozy nook, neatly arranged, are ground and plunge traps, and all the paraphernalia for trap shooting, according to the most improved plans of English and American rules. On the left side of this loft or large balcony we find the professional tools of scientific draughtsman and civil engineer, all laid out in order, meant for use, not show, but a rich man’s nevertheless, live for their use being shown by the perfection and finish of his he tools. , In another case are the appliances for taxidermy. A second collection of books is found in this department keeping with this subject; and here we found Wilson’s Ornithology, 9 vols., of 1808; Charles Lucien Bonaparte’s work of 1805, in 4 vol., Audubon’s complete works of 1856; also John Cassin’s Appendix; The Birds of North America, by Spencer F. Baird, John Cassin and George N. Lawerence, of 1860; Baird, Brewer and Ridgway’s N.A. Birds, of 1874, and all works of the best authors complete, not forgetting flies of American Sportsman and ROD AND GUN. , The walls throughout the building are covered with engravings and specimens, mostly fine illustrations of birds and sporting scenes, together with trophies of the chase, specimens of horns and other matter. Among it the specimens are the spikes of ibex, hartbeest blessbok, eland, gnu, springbok of Africa, the gazelle and chamois of Switzerland, antelope and buffalo from the plains. Bird cages without number, containing song birds, hang from the timbers. Also a variety of trout and salmon rods, with flies attached, ready for a cast. Trailing arbutas clematis, wisteria and other creepers cover the walls draping all of unoccupied spaces. , - Clipping from newspaper