CLEANLINESS. 113 



A great number of birds are fond of washing their 

 plumes, by throwing water over them with their 

 beaks, and even dipping their bodies in ponds or 

 streams. Mr. Knapp mentions the linnet (Linaria 

 Linota) as the cleanliest of birds in this respect, 

 since it delights to dabble in the water and dress its 

 plumage in every rill that runs by ; but we do not 

 think the linnet washes more frequently than any 

 of the other smaller birds (Sylvicola, VIEILLOT). The 

 linnet, the chaffinch, and all the seed-eating birds, 

 indeed, we have remarked to wash less frequently 

 than the slender-billed birds (Sylviada, VIGORS), to 

 which washing seems almost as necessary as food 

 and air. 



The largest birds of prey are no less fond of wash- 

 ing, though they care so little for water to drink that 

 it has been erroneously asserted they never drink. 

 " What I observed," says the Abbe Spallanzani, "is 

 that eagles, when left even for several months with- 

 out water, did not seem to suffer the smallest incon- 

 venience from the want of it ; but when they were 

 supplied with water, they not only got into the ves- 

 sel and sprinkled their feathers like other birds, but 

 repeatedly dipped their beak, then raised their head 

 in the manner of common fowls, and swallowed 

 what they had taken up ; hence it is evident that 

 they drink. For the eagle it was necessary to set 

 the water in a large vessel, otherwise, by its attempts 

 to drink, the vessel was sure to be overturned." 



Did these birds require to oil their feathers after 

 every washing, an immensely larger gland than any 

 of them are furnished with would be indispensable 

 to supply the requisite quantity ; while it would pre- 

 vent their feathers from being wetted at all, though 

 this seems to be their aim in the operation, for the 

 purpose, among other things, of getting rid of para- 

 site insects. The head, however, which they cannot 

 reach with their bill, and which cannot, therefore, be 

 daubed with the oil, is the most liable to be thus in- 



