422 USE OF NATUEAL INSTRUMENTS. 



clean their nests of excrement, free themselves from vermin, 

 preen their feathers, hoist themselves up wires or spars. 

 The chick in ovo uses its bill to break its shell and emanci- 

 pate itself. 



The wings are used variously as fans, as by the hive bee 

 in ventilation of the hive, or in cooling itself (Watson) ; or 

 as shade or shelter, protecting the young from danger, or 

 from the sun in birds (White), and as weapons of offence or 

 defence in fighting with each other. A swan in Kew Gar- 

 dens knocked down a child by a blow with its wing, in 

 order that it might rob him of some confectionery ('Cham- 

 bers's Journal'). 



Besides being used in biting or tearing, in defence 

 or revenge, in food capture and breaking-up, the teeth 

 of various animals are sometimes employed for other pur- 

 poses. Horses use them occasionally in turning water 

 taps, working pump handles, opening gates or corn chests. 

 Dogs pull each other's ears in play or for specific ends, as 

 they do also woman's dress when they desire to attract her 

 attention. 



By means of its teeth the dog sometimes tears off clothes 

 on fire from a child playfellow or a mistress, and it employs 

 the same instrument in lifting door latches, as the horse, 

 ass, and cat more frequently do ('Animal World'). A dog 

 that had soiled a floor with its mud-covered feet scraped off 

 the mud with its teeth (Houzeau). The horse uses its teeth 

 in lifting the crawling infant from its path, for freeing itself 

 or its fellow from vermin, or to relieve it from cutaneous 

 irritation, however arising, to demolish its crib in the excite- 

 ment of passion or disease, even for a certain kind of mutual 

 caress. The tusks of the elephant are employed for uprooting 

 trees, and with terrible effect in the destruction of the frail 

 dwellings of the Indian peasantry. 



Certain curious uses are occasionally made of the mouth. 

 The monkey employs it for hiding food or stolen articles, and 

 the dog sometimes does the same. Berkeley mentions a lame 

 monkey using its cheek to carry nuts. The dog uses its 

 mouth in holding and carrying as well as concealing. Thus 

 it preserves lost coin for its master. Martin mentions a 



