158 THE HUMAN SIDE OF BIRDS 



is happy in her new home, and when spring returns 

 I shall give her her freedom in the great out-of- 

 doors, hoping that the fates may be kind to such an 

 unfortunate being, and that she may find that peace, 

 happiness, and freedom which we all seek. 



All birds are fond of bathing, and it is not only 

 a pleasure with them, but a necessity. For in many 

 cases their lives depend upon their power of flight. 

 If this power of flight be limited, they more easily 

 fall a prey to bird-destroying animals, and even to 

 man himself. It is a well-known fact that aU mi- 

 grating birds pay the strictest attention to their 

 toilettes before starting on their long journeys. 



Among the numerous ways in which birds clean 

 their feathers, and perhaps the most common, is 

 by means of sand or dust, and is referred to as the 

 "dry-cleaning" process or dust-bath. We are told 

 that even man himself occasionally takes dust-baths. 

 The religion of the Mohammedan requires him to 

 take a bath at a certain time each day, and this he 

 never neglects. If he is in the desert, where there 

 is no water, the commands of the Prophet must be 

 obeyed, and so he takes a dust-bath! This dry- 

 cleaning process at least serves to ease his con- 

 science, although it would be a poor substitute ac- 

 cording to our ideas of cleanliness. 



The sand- or dust-bath is a general favourite with 



