CLEANLINESS. 13 



pensations of the Creator ; for if the little wren in 

 winter were to wash in cold water instead of dusting", 

 it must perish from the chill *." 



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

 ing 1 , 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 without 

 water did not seem to suffer the smallest inconvenience 

 from the want of it; but when they were supplied 

 with water, they not only got into the vessel and 

 sprinkled their feathers like other birds, but repeat- 

 edly 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 t-" 



In books of falconry also directions are given for 

 furnishing the birds with water to bathe. " Having 

 weaned your hawk,'* says Willughby, " from her 

 ramageness, she being both ways lured, throughly 

 reclaimed, and likewise in good case, offer her some 

 water to bathe herself in, in a basin, wherein she 

 may stand up to the thighs, choosing a temperate, 

 clear day for that purpose. Having lured your hawk 

 and rewarded her with warm meat, in the morning 

 carry her to some bank, and there hold her in the 

 sun till she hath endued her gorge, taking off her 

 hood that she may preen and prick herself: that being 

 done, hood her again and set her near the basin, and 

 taking off her hood, let her bathe as long as she 

 pleases; after this take her up, and let her pick 

 herself as before, and then feed her. If she refuse 



* Notes to White's Selborne, Letter 12, edit. 8vo. 1832. 

 f Dissertations, i. 173. 



c 



