Birds are inveterate bathers. Bathing is the daily habit of Robins, Catbirds, goldfinches, Song Sparrows, and most other small species, whenever facilities are available. Artificial baths are most important where other bathing places are distant or inadequate. In times of drought, birds will resort so eagerly to baths as to form an almost continuous daily procession.

The bird bath lends itself to endless variations in size, shape, style, material, and cost. Often one may find a large boulder which, at the expense of moving to the desired spot, will prove a ready-made bath if it has a shallowly concave side. Or such a water basin may be chipped out of a rock by a stone mason. Smaller stones, flattened and more or less scooped, are common along many streams. One of these stone slabs, mounted on a pile of supporting stones, makes an excellent bath. Failing that or as a matter of taste, a massive shallow basin may be cast in cement to take the place of the natural slab. A pool may be provided by lining with cement and surrounding with stones a prepared spot in lawn or garden. See illustrations. If desired, running water may be piped to any style of bath. Whatever type the bath may be, the following rules strictly apply.

1. Depth of water should be graduated from nothing at the edge of bath or pool to not more than 2½ inches at its deepest; except that in the case of the larger ground pools it may be graduated up to 5 inches.

2. The bath must be swept or sponged out daily or as often as it becomes much befouled.

3. Inside of bath should be rough to allow the birds a sure foothold.

4. If the bath is on or near the ground, no shrubbery or other possible concealment for cats should be within 25 feet of it. It is well also to have a branchy tree within a few yards of the bath or pool, so that the bathers when alarmed, may easily reach a place of safety, for their wet plumage will prove a handicap in longer flights.