The loyal Georgian. [volume] (Augusta, Ga.) 1866-1867, 1866-03-10

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that, after they had got in, there appear
ed to be no way Of making them under-
stand the nature Of glass, and wherever
they s4w glass window they fancied they
could fly through and so, taking aim
hither and thither, they darted head first
against the glass, beating and bruising
their poor little heads without beating in
any more knowledge than they had before.
Many poor little feather head has thus
fallen victim to his want Of natural
philosophy, and tired himself out with
beating against window >panes, till he has
at last fallen dead. One day we picked
up no less than three dead birds in diffe.
rent parts Of the house. Now if it had
only been possible to enlighten our
feath red friends in regard to the fact
that everything that is transparent is not
air, we would have summoned a bird
council in our conservatory, and explain
ed matters to them at once and altogether.
AS it is, we could only say Coal" and
lament, as we have followed one poor
victim after another from window to win.
dow, and seen him futter and beat his
pretty senseless head against the glass,
frightened to death at all our ATTEMPTS to
help him. NJ.
AS to the humming birds, their number
has beeniinfnite. Just back of the con-
servatory stands an immense, high clump
of scarlet sage, whose brilliant light has
been like a light shining from afar, and
drawn to it focks of these little creatures;
and we have often sat watching them as
they would put their long bills into one
scarlet tube after another, lifting them
solver lightly off the bush, posing mo-
ment in mid air, and then dropping out
OF sight.
They have flown into the conservatory
in such numbers that, had we wished to
act over again the dear little history of
our lost pet, Hum, the son of Buz, we
should have had plenty Of opportunities to
do it Humming- birds have been for
some reason supposed to be peculia ly
wild and untamable. Our experience
has proved that they are the most docile,
coniding little creatures. and the most
disposed to put trust in US human beings
of all birds IL the world. r..5 III.
More than once this summer has some
little captive exhausted his strength fy-
ing hither and thither against the great
roof window of the conservatory, till the
whole family was in alarm to help. The
professor himself has left his books, and
anxiously fourished long cobweb broom
in hopes to bring the little wanderer
down to the level Of open windows, while
every other member of the family ran,
called, made suggestions, and gave advice
which all ended in the poor little FOOLS
falling fiat, in state of utter exhaustion,
and being picked up in some lady's pock-
ct handkerchief
Then has been running to mix sugar
and water, while the little crumb of a
bird has lain in an apparent swoon in the
small palm of some fair hand, but open
ing occasionally one eye, and then the
other, dreamily, to see when the sugar
and water was coming, and gradually
showing more and more signs of returning
life as it appeared Even when he had
taken his drink Of sugar and water, and
seemed able to sit up in his warm little
hollow, he has seemed in no hurry to flee,
but remained TRANQUILITY looking about
him for some moments, till al Of sudr
den, with one whirr, away he goes, like a
flying morsel ofg green and gold, over our
heads-into the air-into the tree tops.
What a lively time he must have of it.
One rainy windy day, Miss Jenny,
going into the conservatory, heard a
plaintive little squeak, and found poor
humming bird, just as we found poor
little Hum, all wet and chilled, and be-
moaning himself as he sat cIinging tightly
upon the slenderest twig Of grape vine,
She took him off. wrapped him in cotton,
and put him in a box on warm shelf
over the kitchen range. After while
you may be sure there was pretty fut-
tering in the box. Master Hum was
awake and wanted to be attended to.
She then mixed sugar and water, and,
opening The box, offered him drop on
her fuger, which he licked off with his
long tongue as knowingly as did his
at Rye Beach. After letting
him satisfy his appetite for sugar and
water, as the rain was over and the sun
began to shine, Miss Jenny took him to
the door, and away he flew.
These little incidents show that it
would rot ever be difficult matter to
tame humming birds--only they cannot
lie kept in cages; a sunny room with
windows defended by mosquito netting