D. Seth-Smith—The Arrival of Humming Birds



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the small drinking outlet, the reservoir being airtight. These bottles

are used in the cages in which Hummers are imported, placed outside

in a small wooden frame, the small nozzle at the bottom projecting

through the bars. When hung up in the aviary the birds spotted

them at once and hovering before them inserted their beaks and sucked

up the syrup.


In the article which follows Captain Stokes describes the meeting

of these birds at Havre and it only remains for me to record their

arrival and subsequent behaviour in London. The Zoological Society

is very greatly indebted to M. Delacour for arranging the details of

the collection of this consignment and for allowing Overseer Bailey

to make Cleres his headquarters from which to collect the birds and

subsequently transport them to the Zoological Gardens ; in fact,

without his kind help it would have been very difficult, if not

impossible, to have obtained them. Sincere thanks are due also to

Captain Stokes for the great help he gave.


Captain Stokes and Bailey arrived safely with a collection of

twenty Humming Birds, all apparently in excellent condition and none

the worse for their voyage. Their cages were placed in the new aviary,

but it was thought advisable not to liberate them until the next day,

when the cages were opened and they were not slow in shooting out

with their curious, insect-like flight. They at once commenced to

buzz about, examining and sampling the flowers, hovering round the

feeders, and drinking the syrup or playfully darting at a companion.

The fountain was a great joy to them and they delighted in dashing

through the spray or perching on the edge of the basin and bathing ;

or they would hover round its sides, sucking up the drops of

water as they trickled over. Their flight is remarkably insect-like,

as one will hover in front of a flower, motionless, except for the wings,

which vibrate so rapidly as to be almost invisible, then shoot forward,

sideways or even backwards. One is reminded irresistibly of some large

moth, especially the Humming-bird Hawk Moth, which is in its shape

and actions a replica of a small Humming Bird.


Two of the Hummers died two days after their arrival, and a post

mortem examination showed that death was due to fatty degeneration

of the liver—too rich food, so we diluted the syrup with twice the



