62 THE BIRD WATCHER 
Sometimes it has sack me that some small dis- 
seminated matter in the water might serve as food, 
and in regard to this, I have seen some large white 
Muscovy ducks, in the Pittville Gardens at Chelten- 
ham, engaged for a long time, apparently, in carefully 
sifting the quite clear water of a little rill. Here, 
too, there was some action, as of drinking. On the 
whole, however, they seemed obviously to be feeding, 
but whatever they got must have been extremely 
minute. The waters of the sea are, no doubt, full of 
tiny floating substances, which a bird might yet be 
able to appreciate, and which would perceptibly add to 
its nourishment. If this were so, then drinking, as a 
special function, might become almost merged in the 
constant swallowing of water whilst taking food, and 
this may be the case with various sea-birds. Guille- 
mots and razor-bills also act in this way, but not, 
I think, gulls. Gulls drink the fresh water of lochs 
and streams ; whether they, of set purpose, also drink 
the sea, 1am not quite sure. If they do, then no 
doubt I have seen them ; but I have not set it down, 
and have no clear recollection of it. 
These Muscovy ducks that I spoke of have another 
curious habit of drinking dew in the early morning. 
This, at least, is what it looks like. They walk about 
for hours over the well-kept lawns, and with their 
heads stretched straight out, just above the herbage, 
continually just open and shut the mandibles very 
quickly and very slightly, nibbling the dew as it were. 
They certainly do drink it—one can see it disappear 
