26 BIRDS USING OIL FROM GLANDS. 



that when birds are supposed to be employed in the operation of applying 

 this oil, people are mistaken, and that the endeavours of the birds are 

 towards the dislodging of vermin which constantly infest them. This opinion 

 he stoutly maintains in his usual decided style of argument, in course of 

 which he enquires — -"Will any naturalist declare that he has actually seen 

 a bird procure liquor, or oil, or whatever you may choose to call it, from 

 the gland with its bill, and then apply that liquor, or oil, to its 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 obtained 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 application 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 supplied to its feathers, they would merely come 

 in contact with the edges of the bill, while the liquor would have sunk 

 into the cavity of the lower mandible. 



Suppose, for the sake of argument, that the bird does actually apply oil 

 from the gland to lubricate the plumage, (which, by the by, I flatly deny) 

 how is the head and part of the neck to be supplied with oil? Why, the 

 truth is, they never can be supplied; and if you examine with the nicest 

 scrutiny, the feathers of the body within the range of the bill, and the 

 feathers of the head which are out of the range of the bill, and then 

 compare them, you will not perceive the smallest difference in their downy 

 appaarance — proof positive that the plumage of the body has not been 

 lubricated with oil from the gland."* 



Having no pretensions to the title of "Naturalist," to whom this question 

 is propounded, it is with much diffidence I offer any reply in opposition to 

 the opinion of so close an observer of nature as Waterton, particularly as 

 my field of investigation has been limited; but presuming the habit under 

 consideration peculiar to all aquatic birds, observations upon one species 

 must apply to others, and furnish a reply to his question. The following 

 will therefore sufficiently justify my differing both from his premises and 

 conclusion. 



I have frequently watched Geese, and there is no difficulty whatever in 

 lubricating those parts which Waterton says cannot be done. It is thus 

 managed. There is no necessity for, neither does the bird get the oil into 

 the cavity of the lower mandible; the bill is rubbed over and against the 

 gland, and being well covered with the oily secretion, the same is transferred 

 to the feathers on the back; the head and parts of the neck which the 



* In the "Magazine of Natural History," volumes viii. and ix., Mr. Fuller will see that 

 I have disposed of Mr. Waterton's arguments. — F. 0. Moiuus. 



