New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-05-20
TAME HUMMING BIRDS.
By PROFESSOR CHARLES FREDERICK
HOLDER

One Of the charms OF the Southern California
winter lies IN the fact that 1t is an open season
for birds and flowers. AS this is written the
air is filed with the squeaIfng chattering of
humuing birds They all about me. now
darling by within foot OF my face, and one
poises in air within reach OF my hand, eying
me curiously. perhaps wondering what I am
saying. Others dash madly along, chasing each
other and fighting fercely for the possession OF
two abutilon bushes n corner Of the garden.
where chair and lapboard constitute an out
door study. The flowers are white, yellow and
deep red, hanging like many bells, and are a
never ending source OF attraction TO the hum
ming birds which polse beneath them, never
searching the inner portion OF the blossom, out
rhrusring their long, slender bills up between
the petals which constitute its base, where they
md fnnumerabIe small flies TO their taste
To attract the flies have dropped sugar and
water on the flower bells, which the hummlng
birds seem TO understand. as I often see them
sitting on a twig near me and thrusting out the
long hairlike tongue I have no doubt the
sv-eetaned water is also 70 their taste. it is
acceptable TO the young. OF these humning
bfrds-soule q vivid green, and others with
match OF brilliant iridescent red beneath the
rf-l-rhat throng the garden several live here,
and one named Bob, has for successive years
perched on the same twig Of an orange tree,
and IS naturally the one know best. He never
allows ne 10 catch him, but I have had my hand
within six inches OF his little body. 1 have
sspcied that perhaps he is the hummer once
possessed and released. found him one morn
ing-if indeed he is the same one-in a nest
in an orange tree about thirty feet from the
tree which he Low occupies: a strange object,
looking more Ike fuzzy spider than bird, and
tucked away in z nest made Of moss and the
fine parts Of seeds, and so perfect in its imita-
ton Of the orange branch upon which it rested
thar II was almost impossible 10 distinguish it;
il point OF fact Il was found by accident.
OK a SUGAR DIET
As I stood looking into it the little birds heard
ne and thrust up their open mouths IN q conf
cal fashion. and, thinking them hungry I
got some sweetened water and fed them with
il. using Z small twig for the purpose. While
l was doing this the mother bird returned and
buzzed around my face in q threatening manner,
and when I withdrew she aIighted and covered
them. sinking down gently upon them In this
way she was Photographed and when the
nest would permit me almost TO touch her with
out moving Every day I fed the young birds
with sugar and water, and finally they would
hop 10 the rim Of the nest when I approached,
never displaying the slightest evidence OF fear.
They now began 10 take lessons in flying.
The parent bird would sit on the nest a
twig near by and use her wings making the
hunnIning sound but not rising, and this the lit
tie birds initiated cInging 10 the nest with their
delicate 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 leaNe the nest cut or the rWIg which held
i from the branch and carried II with It's TWO
occupants into the house, fastening II in the
window The following day the birds left the
nest and began 10 follow me about, and at once
became the most beautiful Of pets. They were
absolutely without fear. which added TO their
charm, and constantly darted about the room
searching for tiny flies on the windows or in the
flowers. Soon when called they responded, and
when finger was extended alighted upon it
with charming naIvete, sitting and eytng the
person with their tiny beadl;ke eyes in perfect
confidence. Their favorite position seemed upon
the head and when upstairs a call would bring
them down.
Bob frequently came TO the table at meals
and would perch upon the sugar bowl clfugiug
10 the handle, down which he would slowly
slide 10 1Utter up again. Whether he recognized
IN the bowl the source Of supply of all his food
Il would be difficult 10 say, but certainly he was
faithful 70 IL, and perched the slippery handle
as long as he came TO the table.
TAKEN FOR BEE
To describe all the actions and tricks Of these
beautiful creatures would require much space.
as nothing could exceed their grace and vivacity,
and visitors 10 the house at this time were
sometimes amazed at the swish and rush Of the
hummers as they darted through the air One
woman whose spring bonnet was a true likeness
OF flower garden was so attractive TO one of
the birds that II wished 10 alight upon il. and
the wearer's blows with fan at the innocent
mite CAME near ending its career, as when
some OF the household came to the rescue II was
found thai she thought ii was bee OF some
and gigantic variety.
AT night the humnling birds retired to a dark
closet. roosting the edge of & basket, never
attempting to thrust their big heads and long
bills beneath the diminutive wings for obvious
reasons 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. Some
times would pretend TO sleep on but the birds
kept huUuing with occasional twitter until
I opened my eyes, when their activity was re-
doubled and nothing could have been palmer
than their actions; they wanted their breakfast
and al once, without delay
The reason for this innperious and insstent
demand was that kept stand glass Of
sugar and water; broom splint was the means
70 the end, and while the hummers poised in the
air I fed them with drops Of nectar, they licking
Il Up with their long threadlike tongues in evil
dent delight Then they would alight my
and allow me TO go 70 sleep again if wished
later. perhaps, following me downstairs TO sit on
the sugar bowl and be RECALLED with more nectar
FREEDOM FOR BOB.
Delightful as were these pets. II was mani
testify q hard fate TO be imprisoned so near the
flowers and growing verdure and so II came
about that the humners obtained their liberty.
Soon after hUmning bird pre-empted a twig
on al orange tree near the door and he is
eyinS me now not four feet distant, his neck a
blaze Of golden red. When not on the twig he
Is buZztng about the bushes or driving away
Visiting RUNNERS, Of which there are dozens;
ASlCs BOD IS kept busy. At this moment. as
tnough ne knows what l am writing and wishes
70 emphasize Il. he has dashed-A blaze of
hght-so near my head that can feel his wings
now ne alights and eyes me curfousIy; now
darts upward 10 chase big iuttering butterfly,
coming back again with g plunge and sitting
upon & tVlg with the leaf OF an Abyssinian
oa-laIa as g DackgroUnd-so effective q bit Of
color that fancy he is posing, the fiery CLEAN
Of his breastplate as he turns this way and
that showing TO the greatest advantage
Bob Is musical and IN January, when sitting
n my study with the door open he began
what was his courtship. His singing was con-