The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1899-09-22
tanned HUMMlN9 BIRDS
Some Strange Pets That Fly AbouA
A California Home.

You would hardly believe" said 4
Pasadena, (Cal.) author whose bAck4
yard is small orange grove hlled i
with pines, bananas and a wealth
roses that humming bird. and
very beautiful one at that, could be
puisancsi nevertheless, It 10 facV
though perhaps am stretching a poink
A gorgeous little fellow with breasN
plate of rose bronze and a voice like
calliope-that is for humming bird4
and his mate built their nest one yeal
In the orange tree over on the drivA
30 near the ground that could easily
look into It. In it were two of th1
most uneanny-lookins es1essiifB fsiBlRHsu thHAstu yf8S
OF baby tarantulas more than anything
else. though | don't know that l evei
saw one. l watched the youngstert
for days, and finally began experA
menting with them to see what they
would eat. Sugar and water seemed
to be the favorite tipple, and | KEPT
little vial of 1t in the tree and fed
them with straw. The little crea1
lures learned to know me, and the mo1
ment | appeared they opened theft
enormous mouths and took the drop
of nectar with great guSto. Every daH
they grew, and daily took on moro
feathers, and | celebrated the opening
of their eyes by giving them some mint
ute flies or gnats. A few days later !
was surprised to find them sitting 81
the edge of the nest, side by side. They
were taking a survey OF the world. anS
incidentally exercising their wings
which they did in a most interesting
fashion. They would rise a little, -
though on the tips of their toes, theik
astV, vi hraf ftNfr hot nA
could not see them never sufficiently
to carry them ahead, but merely 10
lift them a few inches.
They were so completely tame thaA
l decided to adopt them. So | eui
off the branch and removed them d
my study, fastening the nest in the
window, and then began an associW
ton that was extremely pleasant. the
day following the birds began to fly
and follow me about the room. and
when tired they would alight on my
head or my finger, if | held ii out.
They were absolutely without feaE
They soon flew about the house freelyf
would suspend themselves in midaik
and feed from the hand and allow
themselves to be carried about on :
finger. They left the nest in a few
days and would follow me everywherA
upstairs and down. At night they had
a small basket in which to sleep, and
they roasted on its edge in a dark
closet with great contentment. They
never attempted to put their heads ber
meath their wings after the fashion Of
birds in general, for the very good
! reasons-the wings were so small and
! the head so large. They were early risg
ssHSo Shortly ggd aNsFe f the snSS SSqSst qsSSstos hS mo
/ by the very simple method OF noverlnt
over my face within few inches OF my
ese and tanning me with the constant
beating OF their wings, the loud humA
ming sometimes bringing me out oa
the deepest slumber. This accom-.
piished they dared over me, their
black beadlike eyes sparkling, utterinS
a faint cry or note. If | pretended
that I did not see them this was re.
peated until did awake; then l would
reach over to the table which stood at
the head of the bed. take the vial OF
nectar. and feed them with small
drops. the two birds lowering In the
air. their long tongues projecting
through the liquid so rapidly that they
could not be followed Then, when
tired, they would rest on my finger
and gaze at me in cOntemplative
fashion, as much as to say, Well, what
do you think of it.?
81 have never had pets so thoroughly
charming. They would fly. humming
about the roses in the house. now hid.
ing in the great rcd petals of the Paul
Nerons or standing out in bold relief
against the delicate pink of a Captain
Christie. Visitors and friends were
often startled, as the birds were SO
tame that they did not discriminate
and would dart at a lady's bonnet. ess
pecally If it bore resemblance to q
flower garden, to the wearer's amaze.
ment. Sometimes the hummers would
fly upstairs into an east room. and one
morning. several days after they had
been brought into the house I found
an affectionate family reunion in this
room. The windows were open but
protected by screens, and on the inc
side of one the young birds were
elinging while upon the outside hov.
cred the parent birds. The old hum.
mers kept up continual noise ana
made vigorous protest so vigorous
indeed, that | was tempted to release
one OF the birds as sort OF peace Of
fering One made its escape a week
or so later through a window acciden.
kept for some months thoroughly
proving that of all birds the minute
hummer is the easiest tanned and thd
most tractable. | have little douh
that they could be trained to perform
various tricks, as the most striking
feature about them is the complete con.
fdence they display to those who come
in contact with them.
"About this time the hummer that I
call the father took up his residence
in my orange tree. There he is now:
see the little dead branch? Don't YOU
catch the gleam of roseate bronze ON
his breastplate?"
The visitor presently made out
the bird perched on the limb. and the
next moment heard his voice crying.
"Seee-seetseee-seeet," with a hissina
sound continually repeated, 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 sometimes strikes nv
nerves the wrong way simply by its
monotony. AS you see, my door and
window are always open. so that tho
California air and the odor of the or
ange blossoms and the roses can drift
In.
Kills or German Dogs.