Evening star., 1936-07-14

than an inch, or at most inches, above
their claws.
This permits them to flop their wings,
and in this way splash water over the
rest of them, without at the same time
frightening them.
These small pans of water will do
double duty for small animals, which in
clude dogs, cats, rabbits and squirrels.
There may be others, from time to time,
but these are the main garden animals
The last two are found in suburban
gardens, in the main.
Water is often hard for them to find.
Small turtles, more properly tortoiseS,
live for years in small gardens.
These are to be found in city as well
as suburban gardens, and they also re-
Quire water.
Did you know that turtles have claws
on their feet?
They do. They are rather blunt claws,
but ones which doubtless serve them
well In getting purchase on difficult
terrain, as we'll as help them in ham
ding their food.
We have never seen one of these lawn
tortoises take a bath, but have not the
slightest doubt that they do, from time
to time.
Wild rabbits, which live in most sub
urban territories, making themselves
freely at home in the gardens, large
and small, do most of their water drink
ing at night, when life is generally safer
for them.
We have never seen a squirrel take a
drink, either, but are sure that the bird
baths or water pans are used by them,
too Certainly for drinking. Whether
squirrels take baths, in any sense, is
another question. Probably not. They
spend a great deal of time washing
themselves with their paws, like house
cats. How they, who are rodents, ac-
uuired this typical feline habit, is a
mystery Surely they hate cats enough
to give it over, if they knew that Tabby
invented this sport among the animal
kind.
AS every one knows, dogs are great
water drinkers, especially in hot
weather. Cats, as class, do not like
water much. They will drink it, but
do not need it in hot weather as dogs do.
If more pans of fresh water were placed
out so that wandering dogs could get
them easily, there would be great les
sening of canine troubles due to the heat.
If it is done, however, it must be done
daily. as old, stale water is not reliShed,
and may be a source of trouble, instead
of help.
Such drinking vessels must be kept
clean, and replenished frequently, else
there is not much use in putting them
out.
Pool builders who wish to keep the
birds in mind will do well to build a
shallow edge all around the pond, so
that not more than a couple OF inches
of water stands there over the sand in
which small bog plants are grown.
This bog area is beloved OF the birds,
which quickly make it their particular
spot for happiness and replenishment.
The garden hose should never be for
gotten. Even if the gardener does not
believe in too free use of it, except for
the ANIMALS, and for bare patches In the
lawn as these arise, still he must con-
slider that it gives the birds food, by
bringing earthworms to the surface.
. What is more delightful, in the small
backyard, than the happy robin family
seeking its dinner under the spray OF
the hose?
Instead of killing two birds with one
stone, this is making two birds grow
where only one grew before! Water for
the birds, as well as for the plants, and
be twice repaid.