BIRD NOTES 



BIRD FOUNTS IN THE GARDEN 

 Mathilde Schlrgbl, East Aurora, N. Y. 



197 



Marble fountains are beautiful and cement basins enhan< •<• a 

 garden, but our bird-neighbors drink from and bathe in a ten-inch 



flower pot saucer quite 



as happily if it has the 

 proper setting of a 

 woodsy background , 

 from whose shelter they 

 can flit out into the 

 sunshine, take a drink 

 and splash in the cool 

 water, yet loving the 

 warmth of the sun- 

 shine, and then retire 

 into the shady retreats 

 of the shrubbery to 

 dress their plumage and 

 sing their happiness 

 that during the sum- 

 mer's drought there is 

 this unfailing source of 

 water for their joy and 

 benefit. 



It has been undoubt- 

 edly this source of sup- 

 ply which has attracted 

 and induced the pair of 



Photo by M. Schlegel catbirds to nest i n t he 



garden and every spring and fall the white-throats come and the 

 shy hermit thrush lingers for awhile during his leisurely journey 

 either way, but always he is silent, tho I have listened longingly 

 for his utterance. If the white-throated sparrow will whistle from 

 the hedge and the white-crowned sparrow and the ruby crowned 

 kinglet will sing as they pause on their northward flight why does 

 the hermit deny us the delight of hearing his wonderful melody ? 

 Surely it would tone in the garden depths, and be a never forgot- 

 ten episode. 



