The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-12-10
TANNING RUNNING BIRDS.
1t Is Easy When You Know How.
but You Must Know How,

But You Must Know How,
Charles Frederick Holden in the Scientific
American.
My next attempt at cultivatIng a friend
ship with humming-bird was with two
young birds. nest and eggs having been
discovered in my garden. The mother bird
was loath to desert the eggs when I APP
preached, 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, evil
IDENTIFY relying on the protective resem-
hlance 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 and
cavernous mouths for the expected food.
The little birds which first resembled
hairy spiders more than anything else,
soon obtained their feathers, and eyed US
with gentle curiosity whenever we APP
preached the nest. "A rich syrup of sugar
and water was now offered Them and
found to be much to their fancy. A drop
upon the end of broom splint would at
once become the target for their slender
tongues
would leave the nest i'm a few days, the
delicate structure was severed from the
branch and removed to the room of one OF
the women of the house, who now under
took their education. The little creatures
almost Immediately deserted the nest, taxi
Ing position upon it's edge with much I'M
steady fiuttering. Then began the first ex-
periments 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 excursions
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 a flower. Two or three ex-
perimental days and the birds became per-
fectly tame. They would alight upon the
finger or head of their Mistress come
when called, and displayed the most art
less and confiding 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 learn
ed the use of their wings, flew to the win
dow that faced the orange grove and chung
| to the meshes of the screen with their tiny,
delicate claws. Their plaintive squeaking
! soon attracted the attention of the moth
| er bird, who lowered about the place for
| several days, endeavoring to reach her i'm
pFASOueu young, nyIng away
| whenever one of the household appeared.
| 1t would be impossible to conceive great
| er confidence than that displayed by the
! little captives. They were absolutely with
out fear and courted the closest intimacy.
| At night they slept on the edge of a bas-
ket in a closet in our room, and every
| 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 frequently flew
! downstairs, following their mistress, Of
/ ten perching on the sugar bowl or some
| convenient roost on the table, from which
! they would watch the proceedings appar-
emily with the greatest interest. The little
| creatures, lowering in the air and feeding
from our hands, presented a charming
! spectacle.
When called the pet bird would fly from
| room to room, evidently understanding its
| name, and was a constant surprise to call
| ers unaware Of its presence. A humming-
! bird In the family of a friend of mine. met
it's death by being taken for a gigantic
| bee. 1t flew to the gorgeously decorated
hat of a visitor humming about the arti-
| fetal flowers and following them up as
4 the guest attempted to escape. The latter
finally struck 1T down with a fan, only then
discovering to her surprise and dismay,
that the supposed insect was a pet hum
| ming bird