CHAPTER XXI 



FOUNTAINS AND SHRUBS FOR THE BIRDS 



Fountains 



Essentials of fountains. Birds use water for two 

 purposes, for drinking and for bathing. In con- 

 structing a fountain which will be adapted to both 

 of these purposes, three essentials should be kept 

 in mind; first, the edge and bottom should be of 

 roughened material, so that the birds will not slip; 

 second, the water should be shallow, two and a half 

 to three inches is deep enough for most birds; 

 third, the bottom of the fountain should slope 

 gradually from the edge out to the center, so as to 

 give a gradual change in the depth of water. 



Location. In deciding upon the location, the im- 

 portant matter to consider is protection from cats. 

 Birds fly with difficulty when their feathers are wet, 

 and thus are easily caught. Fountains may be 

 raised on pedestals as a protection from cats, or set 

 in the middle of a lawn with no bushes near behind 

 which cats may hide; or probably the best solution 

 is to look after the cats and place the fountain near 

 shrubbery where it will be partially shaded, and other 

 plants may be put around it for an ornamental set- 

 ting. 



