Bird-Life in Southern Illinois loi 



Thrush — seventeen additional species, making the total number of winter 

 residents actually observed, fifty-five species and sub-species. 



In concluding this article it may be well to mention a few of the things 

 that have been learned from our experience on Larchmound. The most impor- 

 tant of these is that the provision of water for bathing and drinking has far 

 more to do with attracting birds to one's premises than anything else; for dur- 

 ing our long, hot, and often dry summers water is relatively scarce, and birds 

 often have to fly long distances to find it. One receptacle, or, indeed, several, 

 is not enough, for when the birds assemble, as they do several times a day 



A BIT OF LARCHMOUND 



(though chiefly in the morning and evening) — and many come from afar to 

 bathe and drink — there can hardly be too many places for their accommodation. 

 Although Mrs. Ridgway has kept fifteen pans (shallow ones for the smaller 

 birds, deeper ones for the larger kinds) constantly filled with fresh water 

 there were not enough, and it was a daily occurrence to see a dozen or more 

 birds collected about a single pan, each awaiting (not always passively, for 

 there were many 'squabbles') its turn; and often one bird able to retain pos- 

 session would take several baths in succession, with the result that when he 

 was through there was little water left.* The water in these pans was never 

 allowed to get heated or foul, but was renewed several times each day. 



As to feeding, this has been kept up the year round, for the feeding-boxes 

 are just as well patronized in summer as in winter, many species, among them 



*Frequently one of the waiting birds would become impatient and it was most amusing 

 to see it 'go through the motions' of bathing as it sat in the grass! Young Robins (full- 

 grown) were especially apt to do this. 



