Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-09-17
Cnnfire Mumming.Rirds

Captive Humming-Birds.
Cincinnati Commercially
DR.. A. Zipperlein, ofour city, has
written a very interesting sketch on
this subject. In May, a year ago, two
kummiDg birds strayed into the house
of a lady of his acquaintance, and
were captured. The lady was a warm
friend Of birds and animals, and she
resolved to try the experiment Of do
~mesticating the little creatures, al
though she was not unaware that
such attempts ended unusually in the
death Of the birds after a few days.
She had no suitable cage, so she Sc
lected a large candy jar and fixed a
perch inside. In the bottom she
placed a bouquet Of flowers, and COW
cred the open end with gauze. The
flowers were renewed every day. The
c~onyolvulus, tropeolum, honeysuekle
and other flowers with long oalyxes
were selected. A little honey was
dropped into every blossom, The
birds began to sip the sweet food on
the first day, humming above the flow
er cups, darting their tongues in and
out among them as swift as lightning.
They also snapped at little insects and
devoured them.
After some weeks they were given
some honey thinned with water, in a
small dish. They sat upon their low
perch and Tapped the honey with their
tongues, like a dog drinking water. In
a short time the humming birds we're
so tame that the gauze that
confined them was removed, and
they few about the room while their
glass palace was being cleaned and fur
nished with fresh flowers and honey,
but as soon as this operation was fin
they few into the glass again
and began eating the honey. If the
lady took a nap after dinner they
perched themselves upon her fore
head and enjoyed their siesta there.
They hummed about the room for
hating for rest upon the finger
of their friend, and dressing their
feathers.
For a change, they would fly again
to the honey, but after a momentary
taste away they would go, flying about
their friend. Toward evening they
sought their peFchin the glass palace,
and sang quick flute note in the finest
pianissimo.
They occasionally snapped at small
insects, but their chief food was hon
ey, and later strong sugar water,
since the honey thinned with water
often settled to the bottom Of the
dish. They throve finely on the sugar
water too. As the weather became
warm in June the gauze covering wa:
entirely removed from their glass
palace, and the little creatures were
given the range Of the whole room
But their food wa always placed il
their own dwelling.
The tiny birds were not at all timo.
rous, even at first; they did not 1uttel
about anxiously when their flower
we're removed and fresh ones brought
Their eyes said plainly, We know you
are good to US. They thankfully ap
preciated the care Of their %protectress
and, although they manifested no un
e~asiness when STRANGERS we're in tn,
room, they could not be induced Il
perch upon anybody finger but tina
that Of their tender keeper.
At the end Of September one 0
them began to be ailing, and a few
days after was found dead upon tn
floor. The other pinned from hour b
hour, and when the cooler nights a
the end Of October approached, il
too, succumbed to the unfriendly eli
mate and to its plainly manifesto
homesickness. These tender ohildret
Of Southern America had lived nearl
six months in captivity.
Humming birds appear to love Gel
z tain flowers from which to draw thei
n%ourishment, whether insects or he
ney. They hover about the blossom
tof the horse chestnut, especially, say
! DR.. Iipperlein. He knows a tree {
that kind about which dozens ofthel
may be seen Of an evening. The rust
/, Of their many tiny wings sounds like
swarm of bees. The doctor adds:
1T is true that this it not Il
first successful attempt at tamir
hummiDg birds since the time of Il
Montezumas, when they we're kept
! great Conservatives, but it prov
. anew that, with proper nourishmel
and care, they can be kept a long tin
in captivity. A conservatory fttC
! up with tropical plants would be VIC
/ adapted to the purpose and render OIL
! observation Of these flying damon
easy, aside from the attraction the
r shimmering little birds would prese
.ra-~t -on1,.,o,I oawIn,