108 HABITS OF BIRDS. 
be replaced by feathers, we have in numerous in- 
stances seen them turning round their heads and 
going over all the tiny bits of down and the ends 
of the sprouting feathers within their reach. This 
might be plausibly supposed to be rather the mother’s 
task, and it is usually so stated in books; but though 
the mother is very attentive, as we shall presently 
see, to every species of cleanliness, Providence has 
ordered that so important a circumstance should not 
be left wholly to her care. ‘Those who have not an’ 
opportunity of verifying our remark in the case of 
nestling birds, may readily observe the same thing in 
domestic animals. Cats, for example, are very as- 
siduous in cleaning the fur of their kittens, for which 
purpose their rough tongue is admirably adapted: 
but a kitten, like the nestling bird, when only a few 
days old, may be seen dressing itself assiduously ; 
and as soon as it can run about, it will even en- 
deavour to clean its dam. ‘This circumstance we 
never observed among young birds and their moth- 
ers; though it is by no means uncommon among 
rabbits, horses, and other domestic quadrupeds. 
Mutual assistance in cleaning is even given by in- 
dividuals not of the same family, as may be seen in 
horses dressing each other’s necks; and Wilson re- 
lates an instance of the same thing in the case of 
two birds, not even of the same species, in his in- 
imitable account of the blue jay (Garrulus cristatus, 
Brisson). An individual of this species, which had 
been caught in the woods, was put into the same 
cage with an orchard oriole (Icterus spurius, Bona- 
PARTE), who at first received the new comer with 
no little jealousy; but this all vanished in a few 
hours, and they lived together in good-humour. 
“When the jay goes to drink,” the narrative pro- 
ceeds, ‘‘ his messmate very impudently jumps into 
the water to wash herself, throwing it in showers 
over her companion, who bears it all patiently ; ven- 
turing now and then to take a sip between every 
