Captain H. S. Stokes—The Cargo of Living Jewels 177


And I must readily admit that when I went into the treasure

room I felt like the Queen of Sheba among the riches of Solomon—

there was no more spirit in me. There they were, rows of emeralds

and rubies and sapphires and topaz, flashing and irridescent, and every

jewel of them a living Humming Bird, 200 of them !


And not Humming Birds with frayed wings and sticky plumage

flopping piteously about in dirty cages, but everyone in show condition

and perfect. They were the property of a German dealer who had

caught them in Brazil for distribution among the fortunate ones of

Europe. They travelled in a nice warm room on the boat, in charming

little wicker cages about 15 inches square and about four birds to a

cage. The cage floors were covered with clean paper, and the birds

were fed from glass bottles corked at the top and with a tiny up¬

turned glass mouth painted red at the bottom.


The food in the bottles was a mixture of honey, sugar, Mellin’s

food, Leibig’s extract, and water, with a little powdered charcoal to

keep it sweet. The exact components I do not know, but I am quite

sure the London Zoo would supply the details.


The bottles were washed out three times daily with silver sand,

and filled each time with fresh food. Every bird in each cage was

able to take ample flying exercise, and did so without any stupid

banging about or injury to itself.


The temperature of their room was between 75 and 85 degrees

Eahr., and the dealer told us they would stand another 20

degrees with the utmost enjoyment, but would become torpid and

unable to fly at anything below 60 degrees. The birds seemed to

dip their beaks into the food at very short intervals, and most of them

fed while hovering.


The next thing was to sort out what we had settled to buy. Twenty

each for M. Delacour and the London Zoo and a dozen more for two

private aviarists were soon caught and recaged by the nimble hands

of Bailey, who took upon himself and carried out with the utmost

care and cleverness their safe transport to their new homes. A three-

hour drive by motor to Cleres, going very gingerly with all the windows

closed ; the arrival there just before dark when the side of the crate

was removed and oil lamps placed by it for the treasures to feed by ;



