to luhncate their Plumage* 413 



wet), that it is trying to dislodge the vermin, which cling with 

 an astonishing pertinacity to the feathers. Now, while the 

 bird is thus employed on that part of its body just above 

 the tail, where there is a gland, some people imagine that the 

 bird is procuring a liquor from the gland, by means of its 

 beak, in order to apply it to the feathers. But, at best, this 

 can be only mere conjecture on the part of the observer, be- 

 cause the feathers on the rump completely preclude the po^' 

 s^bility of his having a distinct view of what the bird is doin^l 

 J. Will any naturalist declare that he has actually seen a bird 

 procure liquor, or oil, or whatever else you choose to call it, 

 from the gland with its bill, and then apply that liquor or oil 

 to the plumage? The gland has somewhat the appearance 

 of a nipple upon its upper extremity : an oily liquor may be 

 obtained from this nipple by applying our fingers to it ; but I 

 marvel how it can be procured by the sharp-edged bill of a 

 bird. When the nature of the gland and the form of the bill 

 are duly considered, it is rational to conclude that the appli- 

 cation of the hard bill to the soft gland would be very painful 

 to the bird. Let us here suppose that the bird has succeeded 

 in getting some of the liquor into its bill : how is the liquor 

 to be applied to the feathers ? It cannot be rubbed upon 

 them, because it is within the bill ; and if the bird should 

 apply its bill to the feathers, they would merely come in con- . 

 taet with the edges of the bill, while the liquor would h^v^p 

 Slink into the cavity of the lower mandible. Granting th^t 

 the liquor were removed to the feathers by means of the 

 tongue, then the under part of the feathers would receive 

 more than the upper part. Here let us keep in mind what 

 a large body of feathers there is to be lubricated, and how 

 small the supply of liquor for the purpose of lubricatidn. 

 Moreover, the nipple, in general, is crowned with a circle of 

 feathers ; and in all waterfowl which I have examined in the 

 duck tribe, from the swan downwards, the whole of the gland 

 itself is covered with a very thick downy plumage, which 

 would totally prevent the bird; from procuring any liquor 

 from that quarter. ^rmd) 1>'»riU f'^oiv l^ ^M v^■^^^ ,t*^^^ 



I will now show that this oily liquor would injure th^' fea- 

 thers. The feathers of birds, when in a perfectly dry state, 

 have a beautiful and downy appearance; in a wet state, the 

 downy appearance is lost, but returns when all the moisture 

 is gone : if, however, any greasy substance or oily liquor has 

 come in contact with them, I do not know what could be 

 employed to restore the downy appearance to its pristine /« 

 beauty. Let any body apply the oil from the gland in quek- '*! 

 tioiLte .a &ather,. and he will produce a fixed stai^. '^ ^ ^ ^^^ 



to^ ri^ii ii 1^ jq^oxo) idi ob biu ^ilJ ^^^ ^ti n*^dv/ ,'^oai 



