The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1890-11-20
TOILETS OF ANIMALS.
SAND BATHS AND WATER BATHS
FOR BEASTS AND BIRDS.

Large Part of the Human Family.
Methods of Some of the Birds.
Brushes and combs most animals carry
with them. "Brillantine" also is car
ried in small and handy reservoir by
all ducks and divers. Mud serves for
cold cream and vaseline; dust for fuller's
earth and pearl powder, and water, as
with US, is perhaps the most important
necessary. But birds especially are
mighty particular about the quality of
their ''toilet dust" and equally nice as
to the water in which they prefer to
wash. Some use water only, some water
or dust. Others dust and no water. Par
tridges are agood example of the busting
birds, and are most careful in the selec
ton of their dust baths Dry loan suits
them best.
But perhaps their favorite place is a
meadow where few turfs have been re-
moved. There they scratch out the
loan, and shuttle backward under the
grass roots till their feathers are full of
the cool earth. In wet weather they
find, if possible, a heap of burnt ashes
on the site of weed fire, and dust there.
Sparrows, on the contrary, always
choose road dust, the dryest and finest
possible. Larks also are fond of the
road, and dust there in the early morn
ing. But they, too, have their fancy,
and choose the dry, gritty part where
the horses hoofs tread.
Wild ducks, though feeding by the
alt water, prefer to wash in fresh water
pools, and will fly long distances inland
to running brooks and ponds, where
they preen and wash themselves in the
early morning. But though passing SO
much time on the water, ducks seem to
prefer shower bath to any other; and
In heavy rain they may be seen opening
their feathers and allowing the rain to
soak in, after which they dress the
whole surface with oil from the reser-
voir which we mentioned above. Swal-
lows and martins are as nice in their
choice of bath water as any ''profes-
sional beauty;" nothing but newly fallen
rain water thoroughly pleases them, and
if tempted to battle, it is generally by
some shallow pool in the road which an
hours sun will evaporate.
FALCONS BATH
We have never seen hawks or falcons
bathing when wild. Trained birds in
good health battle almost daily, and the
bath of peregrine falcon is very care
full performance. But no nymph could
be more jealous CT witness than these
shy birds, and it is not until after many
careful glances in every direction that
the falcon descends from her block and
wades into the shallow bath. Then, af-
ter more suspicious glances, she thrusts
her broad head under the water and
fings it on her back, at the same time
raising the feathers and letting the drops
thoroughly soak them.
After bathing head and back she
spreads her wings and tail fan like on
the water and rapidly opens and shuts
them, after which she stoops down and
splashes the drops in every direction.
The bath over, she flies once more to
the block, and turning her back to the
sun, spreads every feather of the wing
and tail, raises those on the body and
assists the process of drying by a trem-
ulous motion impaired to every quill,
looking more like an old ccrmorant on a
buoy than peregrine.
Cats, large and small, make the most
careful toilet of any class of animal,
with the exception of some of the opos-
sums. The lions and tigers wash them
selves in exactly the same manner as the
cat, wetting the dark, India rubber like
ball of the fore foot and the inner toe,
and passing it over the face and behind
the ears.
CLEANLINESS OF A DOG.
One of the most charming pets we
have kept, and the most particular as 30
washing and brushing its feet and fur,
was lovely brown opossum from Tas-
mania. "Sooty phalangist" was, we be-
leve, its scientific name 1t was COW
cred with deep rich brown fur, had
face something like fox, pink nose,
hands with a nailless thumb, and long
claws on the fingers 1t washed it's feet
every two or three minutes.
Water rats are very clean animals,
and wash and brush their faces "like
Christians. We saw one on pond at
Yelling, in Kent, swim out to pick up
Inc BLOSSOMS OF an acacia Tree winch
were falling on the water. After
daintily eating each flower ON the bank
he licked his hands, wiped his mus
taches and swan off for another. We
also tried an acacia blossom, but except
- slightly sweet flavor, could find moth
ing to account for the rats taste for
them.
Sporting dogs, which are used in
mud, snow and wet, are strangely
clever and quick in cleaning and drying
their coats, and it is a sure sign that
dog has been over tired if he shows any
trace of mud or dirt next morning.
Most of their toilet is done with the
tongue, but they are very clever at us
ing thick box bush or the side of
haystack as rough towel. One small
spaniel which we allowed to live in the
house was well aware that if he returned
dirty he would not be admitted indoors.
About an hour before the close of the
days shooting he used to strike work
and begin to clean himself, and if urged
to do more would slip off home and pre-