THE



Avicultural Magazine


THE JOURNAL OF THE

AVICULTURAL SOCIETY



Fourth Series.- —Vol. XI.—-No. 7 —All rights reserved. JULY, 1933.


THE ARRIVAL OF HUMMING BIRDS


By David Seth-Smith


When, some two months ago, M. Delacour told me that a certain

German collector was expected to arrive in Europe towards the end

of May with a collection of Humming Birds, and that of a similar

collection which arrived a year ago the majority were still thriving

in Berlin, I determined that some should be procured for the Zoological

'Gardens and that, in the meantime, a suitable place should be pre¬

pared for their reception.


The chief difficulty in the past with Humming Birds has been

in maintaining a suitable temperature, for it has been proved that, with

the smaller species from the lowlands at any rate, the thermometer

should never fall below 60 degrees Eahr., the most suitable temperature

for them being from 10 to 20 degrees above this. Another supposed

difficulty arose from their reputed quarrelsomeness, for we were led

to understand that if two or more were kept in the same cage or

aviary there would be serious fighting.


With regard to their feeding, I think Mr. Ezra was the first to

prove that, other things being correct, they could be kept well on a

diluted mixture of Mellin’s Food, honey, and condensed milk. Mr. Ezra

kept one in a cage in a heated bath-room in London for upwards

■of two years. It was let out of its cage daily and always went back


13



