on Humming Birds.



287



the tiny green Ricord’s hummer (Sporadinus ricordi) from Cuba,

just over a year. The former went through his second moult with

me in May and is in robust health, the latter had then just com¬

pleted his moult, also for the second time since I have had him,

and looks a real gem ; indeed they are two of the healthiest and

strongest birds I possess and look like living quite a long time.*

They are kept in separate cages, but are given fuller freedom in a

room for at least an hour every day, when they dart about, whirring

and flying backwards and forwards at a high speed, the vibration of

their wings being extraordinarily rapid. To this daily exercise I

attribute my success in keeping them in such perfect health, in addi¬

tion to scrupulous cleanliness. They are fed exactly the same as my

Sunbirds, and do well on this liquid food, but both Humming Birds

will eat aphis, when obtainable, although they will only take the

insects when the latter are flying. They either do not care to pick

them off the tray of the cage, or else it is not their nature to do so ;

the little Green Ricord’s hummer buzzes along close to the bottom

of his cage, thereby causing the aphidae to fly up, when he quickly

swallows one after another.


Not only in the summer time but also in winter the Humming

Birds are sprayed every morning with tepid water, after which they

complete their bathing by slipping in and out of the wetted leaves of

a small plant placed in their cages.


They are more pugnacious than ever, especially the tiny one

who is a demon for fighting, so they are never let out of their cages

at the same time. Once they have have had enough exercise, they

will always go back into their own cage. The Ricordi has a song

which sounds like the noise of the sparks of a wireless while

working. Of all birds I have ever kept, I find Humming Birds the

most fascinating and intelligent, and my two birds give me any

amount of pleasure. I consider myself most fortunate to have had

such success with these two birds, which were the first and only

ones I have ever had.


My Indian Amethyst-rumpefi Sunbird has gone through his

fifth moult with me and looks perfect now. Five years sounds a

long time for a tiny bird like that to live in good condition.



* We touch wood.—E d.



