116 HABITS OF BIRDS. 
made till the part is properly adjusted. We have 
observed a young greenbird (fringilla chloris) preen- 
ing its wings as they became dry after washing; and 
we could distinctly perceive the tongue employed 
both for ascertaining the parts that were rumpled, 
and for licking them straight when merely passing 
them through the bill was found to be insufficient. 
That this, though it may be considered a novel 
statement, is notwithstanding a correct one, may be 
corroborated analogically by referring to the similar 
manner in which other animals clean themselves. 
Quadrupeds have no glands similar to those in birds 
erroneously conjectured to furnish a dressing oil; 
yet the greater number of quadrupeds have their fur 
smooth and even glossy, simply from licking it, as 
our young greenbird was seen to do its feathers. 
The cattle in our pastures may in this way be seen 
passing their moist tongues over their hair; and the 
elephant in a menagerie may be observed using the 
moist extremity of his preci to clean his rough 
hairless skin. 
CHAPTER X. 
BIRDS, SOLITARY AND GREGARIOUS, ON ACCOUNT OF FOOD. 
Art the moment of writing this, we can see from 
our study-window seven out of a flock of a score 
feeding so closely crowded as to have their fleeces 
in actual contact. And yet the field is by no means 
small, and other parts of it have grass equal in good- 
ness to the corner where these seven sheep are nib- 
bling it to the very root, while the rest of their com- 
panions are only ata few feet distance, in the same 
quarter of the field. 
