114 IN NATURE'S WAYS 



that live in water, and performed by them several 

 times a day. 



The duck comes ashore to shake itself, flap its wings, 

 and ruffle out the feathers, combing and loosening 

 them with the beak. When they are well dried, the 

 oiling begins. The oil for the toilet is stored in glands 

 at the root of the tail. Raising the feathers above the 

 glands, with its beak the duck squeezes out a little 

 oil on to its mandible, and begins drawing the feathers, 

 one by one, through the beak, thus oiling and smooth- 

 ing them, then pressing them into place. The wing 

 and breast feathers receive the most careful treatment. 

 The duck can reach all its feathers with its beak 

 except those on the head, but manages to oil the 

 head by rubbing it on the breast and wings after 

 they have been oiled. Last of all the tail is treated. 

 The toilet completed, the duck is as perfectly pro- 

 tected against wet as if it had put on an oilskin suit. 



Birds of the land and air, like larks, make a simpler 

 toilet, its great purpose being to rid themselves of 

 foreign invaders. Larks wash by dusting, and we 

 never see them washing in water. 



Most birds dislike to be washed by rain, though a 

 few, like parrots, seem to enjoy a natural shower- 

 bath. And some in rainy weather still manage to 

 keep themselves spic and span, while others are quickly 

 reduced to a bedraggled and unkempt state starlings 

 particularly, who after a bath are figures of fun indeed. 



