12 HABITS OP BIRDS. 



nightingale to wash in the winter, and it is fatal 

 to it to do so often ; yet the moment a pan of 

 water is put into its cage, it rushes into the water 

 and soaks itself, and then stands shivering the very 

 image of chilliness and despair; yet will it eagerly 

 repeat the operation, if allowed to do so, every day 

 till it dies. Young whinchats, sedge-warblers, wood- 

 wrens, yellow wrens, &c. as soon as they can feed 

 themselves, if offered water in a cage, wash with 

 similar avidity ; yet if the temperature be much 

 under 70, and the sun not shining, it is sure to kill 

 them. In the younger birds it produces, some hours 

 after and perhaps the next day, a sudden stroke of 

 palsy, by which they drop with a scream, having lost 

 the use of one or both legs, and often with the mouths 

 distorted. In this state the general health does not 

 seem to be affected, but if both legs are paralysed, 

 they must soon perish. At a little more advanced 

 age, the consequence of a single washing in cool 

 weather is epileptic fits, which are repeated at shorter 

 intervals till they occasion death. In a state of 

 liberty the bird would dry itself quickly by rubbing 

 against the leaves and by very active motion, in the 

 same manner as the wrens by perpetual activity resist 

 the severest frost, of which the least attack would kill 

 them in confinement ; and probably when birds have 

 opportunities of washing always at hand, they choose 

 the most favourable moments. In a cage it is neces- 

 sary to give such birds their water in a very narrow- 

 mouthed fountain, to prevent their killing themselves 

 by washing. They will repeat it with equal eagerness, 

 if not prevented, until they die, so strong is the inward 

 impulse. I think the desire of washing belongs 

 most strongly to the birds which migrate to hotter 

 climates in winter, that of dusting to those which 

 remain with us ; a substitution wise as all the dis- 



