24 HABITS OP BIRDS. 



a wiper ; of which I shall mention some examples in 

 the sequel. It was, moreover, furnished in the inte- 

 rior with a sort of pocket, of a funnel shape, formed 

 by the converging rays, into which was collected 

 whatever dust or other impurities were detached from 

 the body, till it could hold no more, when, by a ver- 

 micular movement of the rays, the accumulated 

 pellet was extended, and placed with great care in 

 some place where it might be out of the way of again 

 soiling the glossy skin of the insect. This skin, if I 

 may call it so, was of a soft leathery appearance, 

 exhibiting, when magnified, a minute delicate cloth- 

 ing, similar to shagreen but to the naked eye this 

 was not apparent. 



Magnified plan of the Cleaning Instrument, open and closed. 



*' The instrument just described, accordingly, when 

 expanded over a portion of this shagreened surface, 

 was subsequently drawn out, with an evident effort, 

 (repeated if necessary,) in the same way as boys draw 

 their moist leather suckers when they amuse them- 

 selves in dragging stones after them. Every particle 

 of dust or other extraneous matter is thus detached 



