HINTS TO ORNITHOLOGISTS. 359 



forward as one amongst numbers, to show that even 

 in the simple habits of a bird some of the grandest 

 laws known to man work most potently, and silently 

 condemn the erroneous statements made by the mis- 

 informed. 



This little bird (Dipper) also illustrates the fallacy 

 of the belief that the oil gland of birds, situated at the 

 root of the tail, is used for lubricating their plumage. 

 He who dissects the Dipper will find this gland no 

 larger than the gland found on our land Thrushes ; yet 

 we should suppose that if such organ were used for 

 lubricating purposes that it would attain to a much 

 larger development through the wants of its sub-aquatic 

 owner — proof sufficient, therefore, that such is not the 

 case. Again, the strong arguments that can be brought 

 forward against the contents of such gland being used 

 for oiling the plumage are so overwhelming, and the 

 few facts we are able to glean bearing on this subject are 

 so directly opposed to such a line of belief, that the 

 wonder is it has been entertained so popularly and so 

 long. 



As to the pleasures derived from pursuing the 

 science of ornithology in Nature's interminable range, 

 there are delights the field ornithologist experiences 

 quite unknown to his stay-at-home namesake. For 

 instance, what a thrill of pride courses through him as 

 he clings to the topmost branches of the tallest pine 

 tree, making himself acquainted with the rude cradle of 

 the Sparrowhawk ; or when examining the beautiful and 

 richly marked eggs of the Windhover, laid bare and 

 nestless in the Magpie's old abode, some sixty feet or 

 more in the branches of a towering oak. When, if ever, 

 do our closet naturalists inspect these lovely objects 

 in their elevated cradle } Again, how elated the field 



