CHAPTER IV 



DRINKING- AND BATHING-FOUNTAINS 



Need of Water. — Water in large quantities 

 is a necessity for bird life. Especially during hot 

 ■weather do the birds require a large and constant 

 supply, at a time when frequently the small pools 

 or other common sources of supply may be en- 

 tirely dry. In winter, snow may serve as a sub- 

 stitute ; and in summer, dew and juicy food may 

 furnish some of the necessary water ; but these 

 at best only partially provide the needed supply, 

 which can be adequately furnished only by pools 

 or streams, and more especially when the birds 

 use the water for bathing as well as drinking. 



During the dry part of the summer birds must 

 often find it difficult to secure sufficient water, 

 and this must be particularly true of young birds 

 just learning to fly and unable to go on long 

 journeys in search of water. To just what extent 

 this is a factor in the mortality of birds, it is 

 impossible to say, but that at times it may be a 

 contributing factor there can be no doubt. The 

 unusual places to which the birds have been 



