754 Birds. 



though I have watched for it many a time and oft. Tame ducks I 

 have detected more than once apparently so engaged : a bantam cock 

 I once observed to take the nipple in his bill : and a Surat dove I 

 fancy I saw do so ; but cannot feel certain : this, however, is certain, 

 that birds in confinement, or in a state of domestication, frequently 

 go through the process of preening, without having recourse to the 

 oil-gland. But this is not at all surprising ; for when an animal has 

 been brought into an unnatural state, many of its natural faculties 

 evidently become impaired. An aviary, well stocked with birds caught 

 after they had left the nest, and wherein they would be exposed to all 

 weathers, would afford admirable opportunity of making the necessary 

 observations. I have obtained another kestrel, with the hope he may 

 prove as confiding as the one alluded to in 'The Zoologist' (Zool. 521). 



Mr. Waterton, with his extreme love of accuracy, can hardly be 

 content to let the subject rest before, if possible, the real use of the 

 oil-gland has been clearly ascertained. I certainly did think the 

 kestrel had settled the question for me ; but Mr. Waterton having 

 shown that a link is wanting in the chain of evidence afforded by that 

 saucy rogue, I am prepared to keep it open till decided by the ob- 

 servation of myself, or of others. 



With all deference to one who so properly delights in referring all 

 he sees around him in the natural world to the great First Cause, I 

 do not think his argument "Providence never does anything by 

 halves " is quite applicable. To the sentiment itself I most heartily 

 subscribe : but it must be shown what was the design of the Creator 

 before we can reason upon its supposed failure in a particular instance. 

 We often see one bird apparently " put sadly over the head of 

 another," if we are to consider superior endowments in that light. 

 For instance, why do the feathers of the cormorant so soon become 

 wet when the plumage of the red-throated diver is capable of resisting 

 the action of the water for any length of time ? The question admits, 

 perhaps, of this answer : — a check is thus put on the gormandizing 

 propensities of the cormorant. But the difficulty is only shifted : 

 for, why is the poor cormorant endowed with an appetite he has not 

 the power of satisfying ? I procured last spring a specimen of the 

 crested cormorant, which had so exceeded the bounds of temperance 

 as to remain in the water till is was quite unable to rise on the wing, 

 and was shot in the vain attempt. Notwithstanding, I do not think 

 Providence has " acted partially" in this instance ; or that the diver 

 is really put over the head of the cormorant, but that each occupies 



