126 Bird - Lore 



indulges in a sun-bath it seems to do so for the pleasure it derives from it. 

 (The only effect the sun could have on the vermin would be to drive them over 

 to the shady side.) My efforts to drown bird-lice have been so unsuccessful 

 that I can scarcely believe that the little soaking that the feathers get could 

 have much effect upon them. A little dust in their spiracles, however, seems 

 to put them out of business promptly." 



GENERAL NOTES 



The following is from Cedar Rapids, Iowa: "I can assert positively having 

 seen bathing, Blackbird, Bluebird, Robin, Catbird, Blue Jay, Cardinal, Rose- 

 breasted Grosbeak, Oriole, Brown Thrasher, Goldfinch, Woodthrush, some 

 other Warblers, and, of course. Sparrows. 



"When I brush out the bath every day I thought it must surely be primarily 

 for cleanliness — there is so much sediment in the bottom of the bath. However, 

 as you say, the Robins are in, I think, for fun. I have seen as many as seven 

 young Robins in at once scrambling for place. The old birds won't let the 

 young ones bathe till they have finished. 



"Once I was fortunate enough to be near when a Thrasher, Grosbeak, and 

 Oriole alighted on the bath at the same time. I do not remember now which 

 gave way to the other. Several times Hummingbirds have flown through the 

 spray from the hose, but this fall when it was very dry one could not be satis- 

 fied with that but lighted on a bent-over iris leaf and stayed as long as he 

 wished then flew up in a lilac bush and preened his feathers like any bird. 



"I have seen Robins take a sun-bath, but never any but Sparrows take a 

 dust-bath." — Mrs. H. H. Dunshee, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. 



Mrs. Bruce Ford, of Philadelphia, says: "Catbirds are most energetic 

 bathers in my little pool. One morning I saw one dip in the water, I think it 

 was twenty-eight times, before it flew up to the tree again." 



S. W. Hopper, of East Orange, N. J., writes: "For about seven or eight 

 years I have kept a pan of water for the birds to drink and bathe in, in plain 

 view from the window where I pass many hours each day. When the pan is 

 full the water is about three inches deep. Robins, Starlings, Crackles, and 

 Bluejays will plunge in singly or crowd around and fight and watch a chance 

 to get ahead of one another. There have been as many as eight or ten in the 

 ^an at one time and I have seen them one and all plunge in in all kinds of 

 weather, hot or cold, sunshiny or raining, even when sleeting and freezing oni 

 their feathers. While the larger birds are in the water splashing, the English 

 Sparrows are all around on the edge of pan enjoying a shower-bath, but as 

 soon as water is low enough, in they go with the others. 



"Once I noticed a Yellow-billed Cuckoo, and many times a Flicker, at the 

 bath. They act very much alike when thinking of taking a plunge; they 

 stand at a little distance from the pan as though indifferent and undecided as 

 long as any other bird is near, but when the coast is clear, they perch on the 



