The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-06-03

meals. and would perch upon the sugar
bowl. clinging 10 the handle. down which
he slowly slid, 20 fiutter up again. To de-
scribe all the actions and tricks 81 these
beautiful creatures would require much
space. as nothing could exceed their
grace and Vivaeity. At night the hum
ming birds retired to dark closet. roost-
ing on the edge Of basket. never at
tempting TO thrust their big heads and
long bills beneath the dininutive wings
Here they slept all night, and in early
morning would fly out into the room and
awake me by lowering in the air just over
my face. tanning il with their wonderful
wings. Sometimes would pretend to
sleep on. but the birds kept humming
with an occasional twitter, until | opened
my eyes. when their activity was re-
doubled. and nothing could have been
palmer than their actions. They wanted
their breakfast, and without delay.
kept on stand a glass Of sugar and
water. A broom spiint was the means to
the end, and while the hummets poised
In the air l fed them with drops OF nee
tar. they licking 1t up with their long
threadlike tongues with evident delight
Then they would alight on my finger as
l held 1t out, aud wye me with approval
ana allow me TO so to sleep again II
wished, later. perhaps following me
downstairs to alt on the sugar bowl and
be RECALLED with more nectar.
Delightful as were these pets. II was
manifestly hard fate to be imprisoned
SO near the flowers and growing verdure.
ana so IL came about that the humnners
obtained their liberty. Soon after a hum
ming bird pre-ernpted a twig on an or
ange tree near the door. and he IL eyeinE
me now not four feet distant his neck a
blaze of golden red. When not on the
twig he ~ buzzing about the bushes or
IRVING away visiting hummers. At this
moment. as though he knows what am
writing and wishes To emphasize n. he
has dashed. a blaze Of Hight. so near my
head that I can feel his wings Now he
alghts and eyes me curiously: now darts
upward to chase n big, nuttering butter.
fly. coming back again with a plunge and
sitting upon a twig, with a leaf of Abys-
sinian banana as a background-so ef-
fective bit OF color that fancy he IL
posing, the fiery CLEAN Of his hreRstplate
as he turns this way and that showing to
the greatest advantage.
Bob is very musical and In January,
when sitting IN my study, with the door
open. he began what was his courtshlp
His singing was constant when sitting,
and this became so insatent loud and
endless thnt II became monotonous, and |
decided to break Il up. The only weapon
at hand was the hose, and turned the
fine spray upon him one morning In the
midst Of n particularly noisy serenade.
But he interpreted my attack as an invi-
tailon and dived from his perch IN the
orange tree and repeatedly darted
through the spray, delighted at the OPP
portunity to battle at my expense.
His courtship was wonderful perform
ance. and was combination of song and
high and lofty tumbling for the benefit OF
demure bird perched on a neighboring
branch. Suddenly, without warning he
would dart upward with the velocity of
an arrow. attaining a great height, where
he seemed mere speck: then poising for
a moment. he came down like a meteor
tie, cutting the air like knife. When
within a few feet OF the earth he rose per-
haps nifty feet futtered "A moment then
repeated the swoopng a score of times
As a feat of aerial gymnastics II was n
remarkable exh ,bition. which doubtless
made a deep impression upon the demure
hummer at whom II was directed. Chi
cago Record.