The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-06-11
tanned HUMMING BIRDS.
STRANGE PETS THAT FLY ABOUT 4
CALIFORNIA HOME.
The Gorgeous Little Creatures Intelligent /
and Devoid of Fear-BringinE Up of II
Pair-Beauty, Wonderful Flights and
wnys nf III. n +

iyrhunlChI ways OF the RUNNING BIRDS.
PASADENA. Cal. May 27.-"You would hardly
believe" said Pasadena author whose back
yard is small orange grove filed in with
pines. bananas and wealth of roses. that u
humming bird. and Il very beautiful one At
that, could be- n nuisance; nevertheless. It Is Il
fact. though perhaps am stretching q point.
A gorgeous little fellow with breastpatc Of
rose bronze and n voice Ikea calliope-that is,
for humming bird-and his mate built their
nest one year in the orange tree over on the
drive. so near the ground that | could easily
look into it, In it were two of the most un-
canny-looking objects that you ever looked
upon They reminded me OF baby tarantulus
more than anything csc though | don't
know that | ever saw one. l. watched
the youngsters for days. and finally
began experimenting with them to see
what they would eat. Sugar and water
seemed to he the favorite tipple. and Kept a
little vial of it IN the trSe and fed them with \
straw. The little creatures learned to know
me. and the moment ] appeared they opened
their enormous mouths and took the drop Of
nectar with great gusto Every day they grew
and daily took on more feathers. and ccle
hrated the o-enng of their eyes by giving
them some minute flies or snats A few DAYS
later ! WAS surprised to find them sitting on
the edge OF the nest. side by side. They were
taking u surveyor the world and incidentally
most interesting fashion They would rise a
little, as though on the tips Of their toes their
see them: never sufficiently to carry them
ahead. but merely to lift them a few inches
cided to adopt them. So cut of the heb branch
and removed them to my study fastening tho
citation that was extremely pleasant The day
following the birds began, to lily and fol-
would alight Oh my head or my finger. if held
L out. They were absolutely without fear:
They soon flew about the house freely; would
suspend themselves in mdair and feed from
the hand and allow themselves to be carried
about on dngfr They left the nest in few
stairs and down. At night they had altr's small
basket in which to sleep. and they roasted on
its edge In dark closet with great content
ment They never attempted to put their
heads beneath their wings after the fashion Of
Ss were So es
were early risers and were out OF the closet by or
sspTy after n dayFht and awoke me by
ne with the constant beating OF their wings,
they darted over me. their black beadliEe ' eyes
pretended that did not see them this was r re-
peated until did awake; then would reach
e ID a h v ThSh at fs hd
with small drops. the two birds lowering in
the AIR, their long tongues projecting through
lowed Then when tired they would rest on
my finger and gaze at me in "a contempative
fashion, as much rs to say. Well. what do you
n have never had pets SO thorrouGhy charm
roses in the house. now hiding in the great red
petals OF the Paul Nerons or standing out in
bold relief against the delicate pink Of Car
startled. as the birds were SO tame that they
did not discrimnate ana would dart at adys
flower garden. to the wearers amazement.
Sometimes the hummers would ny upstairs
days after they had been brought into the
house. | found an afectionate family reunion
tected BY screens. and on the inside OF one the
young birds were clinging. W hie upon the out
side lowered the parent b rds. The old hum
Vigorous protest 90 vsorons 'SG niee @ hat
was tempted to release one OF the birds as a
sort Of peace Offering One made it's escape a
week or so later through window accidentally
left open. The other pet was kept for somo
mo th2ronghIy proving that Of all birds
the most tractabe. have little doubt that
they could be trained toiperform'va various tricks.
complete confidence they display to those who
come In contact with them.
father took ur his residence in my orange
tree There he is now; see the little dead
hranshf h ION y@u Catch the CLEAN of roseate
pershesd on Il, re limb: Ara .the next mo.
seeet., with "a Kissing, sounds continually re-
peated. and so loud that 1t could be distinctly
heard forty or fifty feet away.
That is the sound" said the, author. that
he keeps up morning. noon and night. and it
By its srSsS M the Hoy
and window are always open. so that the Cali
i%r9i& air and the 9a%r Of the orange blossoms
Can't YOU drive him away"
No; have tried that. and. frankly should
when the 'seec": seeet' becomes too monotonous
! charge on him: and how do YOU suppose he
am playing with him can show you GU ''''''''
a., The owner Of the garden passed out, while
eSS he sa Of the
ne stream on the BIRD Tie sun eau Caught H' the
mopds. sapphires and gems OF countless hues.
while fairy, rainbow Tor a moment became
bird run Not he; he r." merely piunge "'d awss
into the spray the4 back again, down into tho
Sosasn drops again; rising Ike gem. his
and shake his feathers. Only n moment at
this tns and down he plunged again through the
"Why;"' said the author. still holding the
hose. he thinks | am playing with him;
almost believe that is what he is calling me
Tor Tor Bqt he owns p the tree you can
the hose, the speaker moved away a few feet i'e
Near him were several bushes with wide.
ann,bsr ow and Presently
search for flies and other insects drowned In
the nectar OF the flower. But down Gartrl the
owner OF the premises and up the birds rose
liket bullets, screaming with rage. higher
and higher until they disappeared, Then with
whir likean arrow down came the owner OF
the tree, aghtiug on the orange tree To precn
his feathers and continue his song
on see he Is complete master Of the situa-
ton. said the author. smiling. and will allow
no hummcrs on the place if he seoSithem; and
as two or more are continually irving 10 alIGht
among the flowers he is generally KEEP, busy
The most interesting performance Of this
bronZcd fellow is his c"urtship. He has nest
around here somewhere and his performances
before his mate are extraordinary They con-
sist of what ! should call series OF aerial
nlunges and RECEIVERS in other words. the bird
flies in paraboI or a heightened and narrow
curve perpendicular to the spot where tn"
female IS He whirls around it nt speed that
Is remarkable. SO rapid Is the motion that all
! can see is Il falling body, n mere speci ac-
compancd bv a loud and stridcnt whietliug
sound unlike anything else that | have ever
heard. believe the whistle is the rush Of the
l'ird wings through tn ai": but this is ne
companed by note. prolonged, deep and
musical sort Of Tartle or drumming sound
IN, two forming a remarkuhl" inclination
and well calculated to arrest the attention Of
the domur" female. | have seen this fellow
whirl around a dozen times before aightrg,
then rise into the air after some rival until he
metrd away n the sky. then coming back like