The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-10-29
RUNNING BIRDS EASILY tanned.
And Make Interesting Pets,
(Charles Frederick Holden in Scientific
American.)

(Charies Frederick Holden in Scientific
| American.)
My next attempt at oultivating friend
snip with humming bird was with two
young birds, nest and eggs having been
discovered in my garden. The mother
bird was very 1oath to desert the eggs
when approached, and readily submitted
to the photographing process, the plate
showing the little creature sitting high
on the nest, her beak pointed slightly
upward. When any one went near the
tree the bird did not make the slightest
movement. evidently relying on the pro-
tective resemblance which she and the
nest possessed to a remarkable degree.
FINALLY the two eggs disappeared and
two reddish impossible creatures took
their place; bits of animation which at
the slightest movement opened their wide
ana cavernous mouths for the expected
1000. The little birds, which first re-
sembled hairy spiders more than anything
else. soon obtained their feathers, and
eyed US with gentle curiosity whenever
we approached the nest. A rich syrup of
|
and found to be very much to their fancy.
drop upon the end of a broom splint
would at once become the target for their
slender tongues. a. N
AS it became evident that theIbirds
would leave the nest in few days, the
delicate structure was severed from the
branch and removed to the room of one
OF the ladies of the house, who now un-
dertook their education. The little Great
ures almost Immediately deserted the
nest, taking position upon its edge, with
much unsteady futtering. Then began
the first experiments in flying, rapid
vibration Of the wings, which merely
raised the birds few inches above the
nest. This was succeeded soon after by a
short excursion into the air, following the
drop of sugar. taking 1t upon the wing
from the hand of their mistress just as
they would when feeding from flower.
Two or three experimental days and the
birds became perfectly tame. They would
alight upon the finger or head of their
mistress, come when called, and dis
played the most artless and confding
dispositions.
When the nest was taken the mother
bird made no protest. in fact, was not
seen, but she soon found her offspring
The young birds, two days later, having
learned the use Of their wings, flew to the
window that faced the orange grove and
chung TO the meshes OF the screen with
their tiny delicate claws. Their plain
tive squeaking soon attracted the atten-
ton OF the mother bird, who lowered
lot, rtr& +Hrv lr,@0 So
oring to reach her imprisoned young, re-
luctantly flying away whenever one Of
the household appeared.
1t would be impossible to conceive
greater confidence than that displayed by
the little oaptives. They were absolutely
without fear and courted the closest inti-
macy. At night they slept on the edge Of
a basket in closet in our room, and ev-
cry morning awakened us by lowering over
our faces, uttering sharp little metallic
notes; when successful, alighting upon
the extended finger, cooking their tiny
heads from side to side in an expressive
demand for food. At breakfast they fire.
quently flew down stairs, following their
mistress, often perching on the sugar
bowl vr some convenient roost on the table,
from which they would watch the pro-
oeedings apparently with the greatest in
terest. The little creatures, lowering in
the air and feeding from our hands pre-
sented a charming spectacle.
When called the pet bird would fly from
room to room, evidently understanding
its name, and WAS constant surprise to
lady callers, unaware of its presence, A
humming bird, in the family of friend
Of mine. met Its death by being taken for
a gigantic bee. 1t few to the gorgeously
decorated hat of a visitor, humming
about the artificial flowers and following
them up as the guest attempted to escape.
The latter finally. struck 1t down with
a fan, only then discovering, to her sur
prise and dismay, that the supposed in
sect was pet humming bird.
Who first conceived the idea of tanning
SO delicate " creature as the humminr
bird is not known, but.it has frequently
been done. Old habitues of Taylor's res
jhu1nmers which at one time were ex-
hibited in the window and which attract
ed the attention of hundreds of passers
by. The birds we're thoroughly tame,
and knew the German who caught them
perfectly. He fed them by using glass
flowers, which were filed with sweetened
water.
The question as to the food of hum
ming birds Is one that has aroused much
discussion, some authorities stating that
they live entirely upon the sweet exuda-
lions of flowers, others believing that in
scots form part of their food. can state
that the California ruby throat cannot,
In my experience, live ON sweetened water
alone 1t requires minute insects, and,
perched upon the fingers of their mistress,
our little pets would eagerly hunt for in
scots on the window pane Ants they
would not notice, but very small gnats
and spiders were very much to their
liking.