178 SOME COMMON LAND-BIRDS. 



denly and pour out a great volume of fresh water, which, being 

 lighter than the salt water of the ocean, runs out upon it as 

 it would upon ice before the two commingle. So after a rain 

 the dusky ducks gather about the mouths of streams running 

 into the ocean to drink the fresh water, and here the hunters 

 come to find them. It is worth noticing that the scoters or 

 " coots," which are true sea ducks, never come inshore to drink. 

 Here are some little points for bright eyes to settle. Who 

 can make a list of the birds that quench their thirst by eating 

 snow ? Does a hawk ever drink, when wild ? And who has 

 ever seen a woodpecker drinking or bathing ? And what birds 

 take dust baths instead of water baths ? 



