Signal-Copiahan. (Hazlehurst, Copiah County, Miss.) 1885-1888, 1886-10-21
cork.shaped door to keep ont enemies.
Its namc was Spirorbis. - Ol're 1h'r"e
Miller, in Christian Union.
LITTLE RUBY THROAT.
rhe Cute Ways In which lie Tries Ia
.. YooI'' peopls,

The Cute Ways In which lie Tries "a
Pool" People.
Under our bay-window there grew
small tree, and upon one Of its branch
cs was q rubythroat humming-bird's
nest. One day il grew very cloudy and
soon began to rain. was watching
the nest at the time, thinking that the
poor little ones would get drowned;
but as soon as the drops OF rain conf
mcnccd to fall, away flew the moth
err bird to large tree near by, and
then returned with u leaf in her
mouth, aud carefully covered the
nest over, fastening the ends OF the
leaf to couple OF twlgs that grew
close 10 the nest. In this way the
Young ones were kept as dry under the
green roof rs II their III US had been
built by carpenter. When the rain
was over the mother came back and
unlocked the leaf.
The rubythroat Is very easily tanned
and Is most loving and trustfnl little
creature. A friend Of mine told me
an interesting story OF humming.bird
that used to fly around their porch
where one Of the trumpet.i!ower vines
grew. At one time one Of these little
creatures coming to drink juice from
the flowers, seemed tired. a little
girl approached 1t very gently. The
bird was not frightened away, but as
the Girl came near the vine she stretched
forth her hand. and the humming-bird
rested ON one Of her fingers. 1t was
aftcrward taken into the house and
Keep. as pet
Our friend Mr.. Weber discovered q
curious habit connected with their
nesting. He had frequently observed.
while watching for their nests, that
the rubythroats, after leaving their
station. sho, suddenly and pcrpcndicu-
larly in the mir until they became in-
visible. At last he had the great salts
faction of seeing the female bird fall.
like iiery acrolite from the sky. upon
the spot where she had built her nest;
80 tha; this curious habit Of ascending
and descending must have been in
slinctivcly taught 10 the birds for the
purpose of concealing the precise posi-
ton Of the nc.l.
He also tells III ,ha, one OF his capt
urcd rubyihroats ''playcd possum'
when taken. Stimulating death in
very perfect manner. On several oc-
casions he had enticcd the living
meteor, into the room by placing vases
OF tempting flowers Oh the table and
adroi,ly clo.ing the sash as soon as
they were engaged with the flowers. but
hc had always lost them through their
dasiiing at the window and striking
themselves agains, the glass. Al last.
however. his attempts were crowned
with Success. "lhis time" he says. 81
succeeded in securing an nninjurcd
captive. II Immediately suggested
itself To me that mixture vi two part,
refined loaf sugar with one Of honey I'm
ten parts Of water would make about
the nearest approach to the nectar of
ilowcrs. While my sister ran To pre-
pare it ] gradually opened my hand to
look at my prisoner. and saw, to my
no little amusement rs well ~ sns-
picion. that it was actually playing
possum'-icigning to be dead most
skillfully. 1t lay on my open palm
motionless for some minutes. during
which watched it in brcathlcss curl
osity. / saw it gradually open its
bright little eyes to peep whether the
way was clear, and then close them
slowly as 1t caught my eyes upon 1t.
But when the manufactured nectar
came and drop was touched on tho
point of It's bill, IL revived very sud-
denly, and In q moment was on its
legs, drinking with eager gusio of tho
refreshing draught from silver tea
spoon. When satcd II refused TO take
any more. and sat pcrched with the
coolest self-composurc on my finger
and plumcd itself quite as ariis,ically
MS II on its own favoritc spray. was
enchanted with the bold. innocent
confidence with which II turned up It's
keen black eyes to survey us rs much
as to say; "Well, good folks, who arc
you?"-Christian |Veek'q