166 THE HUMAN SIDE OF BIRDS 



Swift as an arrow ye hasten along: 



Now ye are gleaming the lilies among; 



Now through the gardens of roses you speed; 



Now on the lofty magnolias you feed. 



Gay birds of the sun! Your plumes are as bright 



As if you had bathed in his fountain of light. 



It is lovely indeed your wings to behold. 



All gleaming and glistening with azure and gold. 



While ye drink the pure nectar, and cry te-re. 



As ye fly from the flower to the blossoming tree." 



Nature has provided all birds with the means of 

 keeping their plumage in the best condition, and 

 many birds have adapted themselves well to the pro- 

 cess; while some are possessed of additional equip- 

 ment in the art. Every bird has a constant supply 

 of excellent oil for toilette use, which, by means of 

 the bill, is distributed about the body in proportion 

 to the size and importance of the feathers. Two 

 tiny tanks of the fluid are located on the bird's body 

 just above the rump, and whenever a little oil is 

 needed for polishing up a shabby feather or dusting 

 a plume, all the bird has to do is to pinch them 

 with his beak, and out comes the loveliest hair-oil 

 imaginable ! 



Water-birds are especially dependent upon the 

 oil for their plumage; in fact, their very lives de- 

 pend upon it. In order to keep their bodies dry 

 and warm the feathers are kept heavily oiled so as 



