522 Birds. 



and after driving puss from her snug berth in front of the fire, and a 

 setter dog from under the table, would turn upon the cook herself, who 

 was frequently obliged to summon me to expel the intruder. 



The other bird alluded to afforded me an opportunity of proving, 

 by actual observation, the use of the oil-gland. This, perhaps, is not 

 the place to discuss an as yet unsettled question among naturalists ; 

 but as the pages of ' The Zoologist ' are open for the recording of 

 facts, I will just state what did occur. The arguments of Mr. Water- 

 ton (and all that proceeds from the pen of that accurate and indefatiga- 

 ble observer of Nature deserves the fullest consideration) had well nigh 

 convinced me that birds made little or no use of the gland, or of the 

 matter therein contained : but I was compelled to array the evidence 

 of one of my senses against the forcible arguments of that gentleman. 

 The kestrel perched one day on my finger and commenced the operation 

 of preening ; and I plainly saw the bird press the nipple with its beak, 

 and rub the matter so expressed on its feathers. This was repeated 

 and reiterated ; and fifty times have I watched the bird deliberately 

 take the nipple within its mandibles, and then pass its feathers be- 

 tween them. It was curious to see this bird refute what I considered 

 one of Mr. Waterton's strongest arguments ; namely, the impractica- 

 bility of a bird's dressing the feathers of the head. This kestrel, after 

 applying the beak to the oil-gland, would apparently deposit what 

 had been expressed on one side of its neck or breast; and then rub 

 the crown of the head on that part. 



Mr. Waterton has, I think, asked, " Did any one ever actually see 

 a bird make use of the oil-gland ? " I can assure that gentleman, 

 that what I have related above I not only witnessed myself, but made 

 several others notice it, not once merely, but repeatedly. I do not mean 

 to say I ever saw the matter expressed ; but in taking the nipple in 

 the mandibles, and the immediate subsequent passing of the feathers 

 between them, T could hardly be mistaken. And after observing this 

 a dozen times during one process of preening ; and after watching 

 the whole process a dozen times, with the bird on my fist, under a 

 strong light, I think I may take upon me to answer the author of the 

 agreeable 'Wanderings,' and of the useful and highly interesting 'Es- 

 says,' in the affirmative. 



That birds in a state of domestication make little use of the oil- 

 gland seems probable ; and the apparent consequence is evident in 

 the state of their plumage after exposure to rain : but it strikes me, if 

 birds reclaimed from a state of nature, but still exposed to weather, 

 were closely watched, this question would soon be decided. 



