THE DIPPER. 191 
from the fact that the feathers of the dipper “ may 
remain half an hour or more in the water without 
receiving damage,” he nullifies his inference, by 
adducing a subsequent fact, that the feathers of a 
robin or a thrush, “ if they have only fallen into the 
water for a few minutes, become totally spoiled, as 
far as the purposes of stuffing are concerned ;’ for 
the robin and the thrush have the oil-gland as 
completely developed, and as perfect in every point 
of view, as that of the dipper. If, then, the feathers 
of the dipper are preserved from injury in the water 
by the contents of the oil-gland, surely, by a parity 
of reasoning; those of the robin and the thrush ought 
to be equally preserved. But the Rev. Mr. Morris 
informs us that the feathers of the robin and the 
thrush become totally spoiled, as far as the purposes 
of stuffing are concerned, if they have only fallen 
into the water for a few minutes. This I consider 
tantamount to an avowal, on the part of the reverend 
ornithologist, that the robin and the thrush do not 
lubricate their feathers. So much for the oil-gland, 
and its supposed uses. | 
I will now take the liberty of assuring the Rev. 
Mr. Morris, that the feathers of the robin and the 
thrush do not become totally spoiled, as far as the 
purposes of stuffing are concerned, by immersion in 
the water; on the contrary, their plumage is im- 
proved by it. Merses profundo, pulchrior evenit. 
I will engage to steep a robin and a thrush for a 
whole day in a basin of water, and make better spe- 
cimens of them than if I had stuffed them before 
they had undergone the immersion. 
