184 Bird - Lore 



thing not even attempted on such a small bath at other times. Mourning 

 Doves and Robins, Brown Thrashers and Robins, Flickers and Robins, 

 Crackles and Robins, would drink together. One day a Robin and a Flicker 

 were actually in the bath at the same time. A truce seemed to be established 

 because it was molting-time. The only exception was the Blue Jay, which 

 would not permit any other bird at the bath with itself. 



4. Dust-bathing birds now became water-bathing birds. Ordinarily the 

 Mourning Dove and Blue Jay do not bathe in water but take dust-baths 

 instead. Now they could not get water enough. Their awkwardness in the 

 bath, however, was apparent, and that of the Mourning Dove almost ludicrous. 

 Other birds, such as Robins, Catbirds, and Thrashers, seem to have acquired 

 an impulsive wing reaction which sends the water flying. Jays and Doves 

 want to roll in water as they do in dust; but while the molting fever is on 

 them they must have water. 



5. Toward the end of the moUing-season new vigor becomes manifest. The 

 birds came less frequently to the bath, and drank and bathed less when they 

 did come. They would not permit each other on the bath with the same 

 contentment as before; too close proximity engendered hostility. Different 

 species on the bath at the same time was a thing of the past. They were now 

 more noisy; and even a snatch of song from Robins, Crosbeaks, Wrens — and 

 Meadowlarks in the nearby meadow — was not uncommon. The Flicker even 

 renewed his courting antics and proposed a new mating until the vicious pecks 

 of the female reminded him that the mating season was over. 

 '■ When full vigor had returned and the birds had become their real selves 

 again, the premises were soon abandoned, for the summer residents had 

 taken wing for their southern winter home. 



