I/O BOMBAY DUCKS 



ing very bedraggled, would fly off to a neighbouring 

 tree in order to complete his toilette. Sometimes, when 

 the water in the bath was low, so that a great dive of 

 twelve inches was necessary to reach it, the would-be 

 bather could not bring himself up to the point of taking 

 the plunge. After much hopping to and fro, he would 

 fly away, vowing, I doubt not, to take an extra good 

 bath the next day, calling upon the saints to witness 

 the fact that never again would he miss his bathe, no 

 matter how low the water should be ; in short, making 

 all manner of good resolutions. 



During the winter months the birds used not to visit 

 the bath until the sun had had time to warm it. Birds 

 do not like their bath water quite cold. 



The bathing of the kite is a very sedate operation. 

 It is accompanied by none of the splashing and flapping 

 of wings which characterizes crows and mynas. The 

 ungainly bird wades leisurely into the water and squats 

 down in it for a few minutes. It then seeks some con- 

 venient spot and there remains motionless, with wings 

 and tail expanded to the uttermost. 



Kites may often be seen in such an attitude, face to 

 the wall, on the ledge of the spire of the Fort Church in 

 Madras, Vultures bathe in much the same way as 

 kites do. They select a gently sloping river bank and 

 enter the water to a depth of three or four inches. 

 There they remain for a few minutes, sometimes motion- 

 less, sometimes sedately flapping their wings. They 

 then walk out of the water, shake their great pinions, 

 and stand perfectly still, until the sun dries their out- 

 stretched wings. 



