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Correspondence, Notes, etc.



the old bird commenced to sit. The first day was spent in, or close about,

the nest. But, on the second day, the parents led the two young up a bank

on to the level part of the paddock, and commenced to fetch food (flies,

&c.) to the young, which received each insect from the old bird’s bill. At

this time the young bird seemed quite incapable of picking up anything off

the ground. It was not till the 12th day that I saw the young attempt to

feed themselves, and they did very little in this way till the 17th day, when

I saw them pick up for themselves a few mealworms which I threw to

them. Therefore I think it may be taken that, for a fortnight at least, your

young Crane, if hatched, will not be capable, even if food be before it, of

supplying its own wants. I should suggest that, after the first day, the hen

be turned loose with it into some sweet orchard or paddock, where there is

some long grass, and in which she may find the insects which she will

perhaps capture and hold for the young bird. Some mealworms and very

small clean earthworms might be given several times a day. The difficulty

will be to tide over the first fortnight. After that I should expect no great

difficulty. As soon as the young Crane can pick up its food, scalded

Spratt’s meal, finely chopped raw meat, and yolk of egg should be given ;

and at the same time plenty of range over clean ground, where it w'ill find

insects for itself. Wishing you all success. W. H. S'l'. Quintin.



NESTING OF THE RUBY-THROATED HUMMING BIRD.


The following cutting is from the Field of July 4th, 1903 :—“ About

the middle of May last year a pair of Humming birds built their nest in a

large honeysuckle which partly covers one side of my house. The nest was

not more than 2ft. from a window much darkened by the creeper, and in

due course contained two eggs. The ruby-tliroated owners gradually lost

all shyness. During incubation the hen bird amazed us by her frequent

and prolonged absences, lasting occasionally more than an hour. On each

return the little creature would dart down at full speed, never settling on

twig or leaf but “ plumping” right into her nest, and keeping her brilliant

eges fixed on those watching her. In exactly twenty-one days two young

ones, much resembling spiders, appeared. Again the prolonged absences

occurred. So far as we could judge, intervals of about two hours elapsed

before the bird’s return, always at the top of her speed, and luckily for us,

invariably announcing her arrival in the very audible manner of all Hum¬

ming birds. The bills of the young for two or three days looked much like

the beaks of other small birds, then they visibly lengthened from day to

day. During the feeding process the parents appeared to disgorge a tiny

pellet (honey and microscopic insects presumably), which was held in the

tips of their long curved bills and then thrust down the throats of their

young. The latter throve and soon appeared to out-grow the tiny nest,

which, by the way, was built largely of my wife’s hair combings, plenti¬

fully decorated with silver lichen, such as the Chaffinch uses for ornamental



