Bird feeder tube used to fill the ‘food bowls’ inside a bird cage without opening the door of the cage. The tube was filled with seeds and then emptied into the bowl after sticking it through the bars of the cage. This one which came from Beijing was decorated with a hot poker and a sharp pen and depicts the Eight Immortals and the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac. It was acquired in Hong Kong in 1994 and originally had a wax seal allowing it to be exported from China. It dates from the 19th century. Length 24.8 cm. Diameter 1.9 cm.