A REVISED CREED. 
115 
tion do, at times, sing agreeably and that they are capable 
of graceful motion. Observations at home have verified 
these points beyond question. There is scarcely a resident 
or passing bird whose notes or manner of flight have not 
sometime been suggested by certain notes or movements of 
the “unmitigated.” 
Next, as to their manners. Of these we have had unus¬ 
ually advantageous means of observation. In the lawn, 
quite near the house, is a faucet that controls running wa¬ 
ter. At the side of it, we have scooped out a little pool, 
lining the bottom of it with pebbles and pond sand. The 
birds evidently consider this equivalent to a natural spring 
of water and use it throughout the season as a bathing re¬ 
sort as well as drinking fountain. To this little pool they 
troop from early morn till dewy eve. Sometimes we have 
neglected to turn the water on after temporarily shutting 
it off. Then there is a great commotion among our feath¬ 
ered friends. They perch on tree and bush and shout for 
us to “turn on that water quick!” And we always do, if 
we have to get out of bed hours before breakfast time for 
the purpose. When the water is once running the clatter 
ceases and as soon as we are indoors down flutter the birds, 
robins, song sparrows, yellow birds, anything and every¬ 
thing, including the “unmitigated. ’ ’ Then what happens? 
Terrible contests and the precipitate flight of all but the 
wicked imps? Not a bit of it! Some of the finest exhibi¬ 
tions of patience and courtesy imaginable, often such as to 
put to shame Us, two legged lords of creation! Not more 
than three or four have room to bathe at the same time, so 
certain ones take the first chance, dip and splash, then fly 
up into an overhanging bush to dry arid preen. Then an¬ 
other lot will replace them and so the fun goes on. Occa¬ 
sionally there will alight an ill-natured bird, sometimes of 
one species, sometimes of another, who will attempt to ap¬ 
propriate the whole establishment to his personal use. Our 
