The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-06-03
e Ny Tame Hummin9 Birds.
BY CHARLES FREDERICK HOLDER.

NE of the charms of Southern
California lies in tho fact that
even the winter is an open season
" for birds and flowers. AS this is
written the air is filled with the
chattering of humming birds. They are
all about me, now darling by within a
foot of my face, and one poises in air
within reach of my hand. cycling me
curiously. Others dash madiy along,
chasing each other and fighting fiercely
for the possession OF two abntilon bushes
in corner of the garden. where chair
and lapboard constitute an outdoor
study. The flowers are white. yellow
and deep red. hanging like so many
bells, and are a never-endlng source OF
attraction for the hummins birds which
poise beneath them. never searching the
inner portion OF the blossom, but thrust
ing their long. slender bills up between
the petals which constitute its base.
To attract the flies have dropped sugar
and water on the flower bells and this
the humtnine birds seem to understand
as | often see them sitting on twig
near me aud thrusting out their long.
haifiiks tongues I have no doubt the
sweetened water is also TO their taste.
or al these humrning birds--sone q vivid
green others with a patch OF brilliant
Iridesceut red beneath the bil-one,
perohed on the same twig of an orange
tree. and is naturally the one ] know
best. He never allows me to catch him
hut have had my hand within six inches
of his little body. have faueied that
he is perhaps the hummer | once pos
sessed and released. | found him one
norning-if. indeed, he is the same one
In a nest in an orange tree, about thirty
feet from the tree he now occupies--a
IN nh Ire
spider than a bird and tucked away in
nest made of moss and the fine parts
of seeds.
AS stood looking into IL the little birds
heard me and thrust up their open
mouths In comicaf fashion. and. think
ing them hungry, | got some sweetened
water and fed them with n. using n small
twig for the purpose While I was doing
this the mother bird returned and buzzed
around my face In a threatening manner.
and when withdrew she aighted and
covered them, sinking down gently upon
them. In this way she was photograph
81. and when on the nest would permit
me almost TO touch her without moving
Every day I fed the young birds with
sugar ana water. and finally they would
hop 10 the rim OF the nest when / APP
preached. never displaying the slightest
evidence of fear.
ing. The parent bird would set on the
nest or on a twig near by and use her
wings. making the humming sound, but
not rising and this the little birds imi-
tated. clinEing to the nest with their deli
cate feet. on the second day | noticed
that they rose into the air five or six
inches during this exercise. and believing
that they would soon leave the nest
cut OF the twig which held II and carried
IT, with It's two occupants, into the house,
fastening II In the window. The follow.
ing day the birds left the nest and began
TO follow me about. and at once became
the most beautiful of pets. They were
absolutely without fear. and constantly
darted about the room searching for tiny
flies on the windows or In the flowers.
Very soon when called they responded
and when a finger was extended alighted
upon It with charming uaivete. sitting and
cycling the person with their tiny besdlike
eyes with perfect confidence
Bob frequently came 10 the table at