Tombstone epitaph., 1891-02-01
ANIMALS TOILETS.
Most of Them Are in the Habit of Takir
 Daily Bath.

1 Daily Bath.
 As rule, all animals are cleanly bv nature. Even pigs will keep clean if they are not confined in pen or yard. Brushes and combs, says Golden Days, most animals carry with them, and ducks and divers are always supplied with oil in handy reservoir. Birds especially are very 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.
 Partridges are good example of the dusting birds, and are most careful in the selection of their dust baths Dry loam suits them best; but perhaps their favorite place is a meadow where few turfs have been removed. There they scratch out the loam, and shuttle back wards 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 a weed fire, and dust there.
 SparrOws, on the contrary, always choose road dust, the dryest and finest possible. Meadow larks, also, are fond of the road, and dust there in the early morning. But they, too, have their fancy, and choose the dry, gritty part, where the horses hoofs tread.
 Wild ducks, though feeding by the salt water, prefer to bathe in fresh-water pools, and will fly long distances inland to running brooks and ponds, where they preen and wash themselves in the most vigorous and thorough way.
 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 reservoir which we men, tiOned above.
 Swallows and martins are likewise nice in their choice of bath water; noth- ing but newly-fallen rain water thor oughly pleases them, and if tempted to bathe, it is generally by some shallow pool in the road which an hours sun will evaporate.
 Cats, large and small, make the most careful toilets 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 be- hind the ears. The foot is thus at the same time face sponge and brush, and the rough tongue combs the rest of the body.
 Sporting dogs, which are used in mud, snow and wet are strangely clever and quick in cleaning and drying their coats and it is 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 using bush or the side of haystack as rough towel. One small spaniel which was 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- sent himself neat and clean in the dining-room.
 One day the dog had been left at home. and his master returned and seat ed himself, wet and with half-froz drops of ice sticking to his gaiters, by the fire.
 Pan ran up and carefully licked of the frozen ice and snow, stopping every now and then to give an anxious look, which said as plainly as possible:
 Dear me! If I don't get him clean quickly, he will be sent to lie in the stable."