CLEANLINESS. 3 



" When the jay goes to drink," the narrative proceeds, 

 " his messmate very impudently jumps into the water 

 to wash herself, throwing 1 it in showers over her com- 

 panion, who bears it all patiently; venturing now 

 and then to take a sip between every splash, without 

 betraying the smallest irritation. On the contrary, 

 he seems to take pleasure in his little fellow-prisoner 

 allowing her to peck (which she does very gently) 

 about his whiskers, and to clean his claws from the 

 minute fragments of chesnuts which happen to ad- 

 here to them*." 



Ducks and other water-birds are, if possible, more 

 assiduous in trimming their feathers than land-birds, 

 one reason for which appears to be, that their 

 plumelets being of very close texture, any slight de- 

 rangement in them is readily felt from the air getting 

 access to the skin through the breach thence oc- 

 casioned. The closeness of feather in aquatic birds 

 serves to present an impenetrable texture to the 

 water in which they swim, as well as a smooth 

 surface which diminishes the effects of friction in 

 their progress. 



The greater number of authors, in addition to this, 

 tell us that birds, and more particularly aquatic birds, 

 dress their feathers with a peculiar oil furnished for 

 this purpose by a gland on the rump-; but this is an 

 opinion which we shall presently see admits of con- 

 siderable doubt. It may be well, however, to state the 

 particulars of the common notion. " Upon the rump/' 

 says Willughby, " grow two glandules, designed for 

 the preparation and secretion of a certain unctuous 

 humour, and furnished with a hole or excretory ves- 

 sel. About this hole grows a tuft of small feathers 

 or hairs, somewhat like to a painter's pencil. When, 

 therefore, the parts of the feathers are shattered, 

 ruffled, or any way discomposed, the bird, turning 

 * Wilson, Amer. Ornith. i. 15. 



