ANIMALS TOILETTES 21 



were falling on the water. After daintily eating 

 each flower on the bank, he licked his hands, wiped 

 his moustaches, and swam off for another. We 

 also tried an acacia blossom, but except a slightly 

 sweet flavour, could find nothing to account for 

 the rat's taste for them. Sporting dogs, which are 

 used in mud, snow, and wet, are strangely clever 

 and quick in cleaning and drying their coats ; and 

 it is a sure sign that a dog has been over-tired if 

 he shows any trace of mud or dirt next morning. 

 Most of their toilette is done with the tongue, 

 but they are very clever at using a thick box bush 

 or the side of a haystack as a rough towel.* One 

 small spaniel which we allowed to live in the house 

 was well aware that if he returned dirty, he would 

 not be admitted indoors. About an hour before 

 the close of the day's shooting, he used to strike 

 work and begin to clean himself; and if urged to 

 do more, would slip off home and present him- 

 self neat and clean in the dining-room. One day 

 the dog had been left at home, and his master re- 

 turned and seated himself, wet, and with half-frozen 

 drops of ice sticking to his gaiters, by the fire. 



* When shooting on the famous ' Scoresby Leas,' where the army of the 

 Pilgrimage of Grace encamped, near Doncaster, I saw a curious example of the 

 importance some animals attach to having a ' clean up ' the moment work is over. 

 As soon as we sat down to luncheon, a small retriever bitch, belonging to my 

 host's keeper, began at once to pull off with her teeth all the burrs that had stuck 

 to our gaiters and knickerbockers. This was her constant habit. 



