n2 Sbe MarMer 



A Hummingbird Incident 

 The following article appeared in the Brooklyn Times August 5th 

 RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD 



How Hex' Little Ones Were Looked After Until 

 Mother Returned 



EAST MORICHES, L. I. Aug. 5.— The Misses Clara 

 and Mary N. Howell, sisters of Postmaster E. O. Howell, 

 of this village, were much pleased to find that a Ruby- 

 throated Humming-bird had its nest near their door, 

 and watched it carefully. After the severe electrical 

 storms of last week, the mother bird was missing, and it 

 was supposed had deserted the nest, or had met with dis- 

 aster. The Misses Howell had the nest taken from the 

 tree, bv sawing oft* a limb both sides of the nest. The 

 young birds were fed. from the point of a toothpick, with 

 canned honey and appeared to thrive under the care of 

 their foster mothers for two days when the old bird re- 

 appeared around the doorway. The limb containing the 

 the nest was, replaced in the tree and securely tied. 

 The old bird resumed its care of the young ones, and 

 they are now completely fledged, in beautiful plumage, 

 and apparently ready to strike out for themselves and 

 see the world. 



To verify the above statement we wrote to the Misses Howell and re- 

 ceived the following reply, dated August 10th: 



"Dear Sir:— 



" Your letter asking about the Hummingbirds was received. The 

 newspaper story was not far out of the way. The bird built its nest very 

 near our windows and I was much interested in it and watched it whenever 

 I had leisure. One day I did not see the old bird at all and as night drew near 

 I was fearful she had become the victim of a cat or some accident, and I 

 thought we might be able to save the young birds. So a part of the limb 

 where the nest was attached was broken off, and the birds were fed with 

 honey from the point of a pin, then covered with cotton batting and placed 

 in a comfortable room. The next morning when I looked toward the nest 

 what was my surprise to see the mother bird flying around the tree. I im- 

 mediately had the limb replaced, firmly tied, and soon she was with the 

 nestlings as happy as ever. We continued to watch them with interest un- 

 til the morning they flew away, and we regret we shall see them no more. 



" (Signed) Mary N. Howell." 



