V0l 'if{5 XI1 ] Scttoder, The Birds' Bath. 467 



But there are four variations of the way of bathing, seen chiefly 

 in the nesting season. Why a bird should choose one way rather 

 than another is a mystery for which I have never been able to fur- 

 nish any explanation, even by the wildest use of imagination. The 

 factors which have been considered are the temperature, the wind, 

 the amount of sun or cloud or rain, the time of day, the sex of the 

 bird when it can be known from plumage, the appearance of the 

 bird (for a Chipping Sparrow certainly looks as if it were more care- 

 ful of its feathers and general appearance than a Phoebe is), and 

 the size and kind of bird. What is left? I think that the question 

 can be solved only by one who is able to live with a bird, and keep 

 up with it when it leaves its nest — which sounds very difficult. 



Now as to these different ways of bathing. In the typical form 

 there is only the length of time to consider. This has ranged in 

 my observation from two seconds to one hundred seconds. 



The next most common form is a series of short baths in the typi- 

 cal way, each lasting from two to fifty seconds, with an average of 

 about five seconds. Then the bird flies to a perch on which it 

 stays a short time, sometimes with just a little shake, sometimes 

 with elaborate preening of feathers. Then it takes another bath 

 and flies back to the perch for drying. In this way the bath is 

 repeated sometimes six or seven times. In these cases the birds 

 were entirely free from fear and from disturbance, an important 

 consideration. For if a bird is driven out of the water by another 

 bird, it will often fly up, perch, and come back again when the other 

 is through. It may be driven away several times, yet always return 

 until satisfied, as if some particular length or completeness of 

 bathing was necessary. 



Then comes a variation in which the bird takes a number of 

 short dips, but does not shake much while in the water, though the 

 wings are partly opened. 



The fourth variation consists in a very vigorous shaking on a 

 perch in the air before taking a bath, which may be any of the three 

 preceding kinds. But I have never seen this shaking followed by 

 the fifth kind of bath. 



This fifth variation consists in keeping the wings tight shut or 

 nearly tight shut, while in the water. The bird may splash about 

 vigorously, or take a quiet bath. 



