BIRDS AND THEIR PARLOURS 161 



beautify their plumage. They know as well as we 

 that the cleansing power of fresh water far exceeds 

 that of salt, arid they avail themselves of it in spite 

 of distance. 



In the chosen pool or stream they sport like so 

 many schoolboys, screaming, diving, and chasing 

 each other in a manner unmistakably jolly and bois- 

 terous. Then they repair to some nearby sunny 

 hillside where they sit with their faces to the wind, 

 preening their feathers in sheer contentment. Pen- 

 guins also seek fresh water whenever possible, and, 

 although they are ill-adapted to land travel, often 

 go far inland to seek a stream where they may rear 

 their young. 



Parrots, while not adapted to the water in any 

 way, yet spend a great deal of their time in bath- 

 ing. Their beautiful plumage is their chief pride, 

 and they take pains to keep it in the best condition 

 possible. Several species of African parrots are 

 known to observe the custom of daily meeting in a 

 dead tree, and proceeding en masse to a bathing- 

 place. None but limpid water will satisfy their 

 fastidious tastes, so they travel a considerable dis- 

 tance. 



When they arrive there, they abandon themselves 

 to the frolic, and roll and tumble about, throwing 

 water with their wings until all are soaked. Then 



