Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1891-01-07
ANIMALS TOILETS.
Sand Baths and Water Baths for Birds
AMI Beasts.


all ducks and divers. Mud serves for
cold cream and vasoline; dust for
fuller's earth and pearl powder, and
water, as with us, is perhaps tho most
important necessary. But birds espo-
rially, says tho London Spectator, are
mighty particular about the quality of
their ''toilet dust" and eq ually nice as to
tho water in which they prefer to wash.
Some use water only, some water or
dust, others dust and no water.
cartridges are good example Of the
busting birds, and are most careful in
thc selection of their dust baths. Dry
loan suits them best. But perhaps their
favorite place is a meadow where few
turfs have been removed. There they
scratch out the loan, and shuttle back
wards under the grass roots till their
feathers are full of the cool earth. In
wet weather they find, if possible, q
hoap 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 tho 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 wash in fresh
water pools, and Will fly long distances
INLAND to running brooks and ponds,
where they preen and wash themselves
n the carly morning. But though pass
ing SO much timo on the water, ducks
seem to prefer a shower bath to any
other; and in heavy rain they may be
seen opening their feathers and allow
ing tho rain to soak in, after which they
dress tie whole surface with oil from
Tho reservoir which we mentioned
above. Swallows and martins arc as
nice in their choice Of bath water as
any professional beauty" nothing but
newly fallen rain water thoroughly
plcasoS them. and if tempted to battle,
1t is generally by some shallow pool in
Tho road which an hours sun will cvap-
crate.
Cats, large and small, make tho most
careful toilet Of any class of animal, with
tho exception Of some Of the oposSunls.
The lions and tigers wash themselves in
exactly tho same manner as the cat,
wetting tho dark, Erdia-rubhcr-lilZo ball
of tho foro foot arl tho inner toe. and
passing it over the face and behind tho
ears. The foot is thus at the Same time
face sponge and brush, and the rough
tongue combs the rest OF tho body.
iIarcs also use their feet to wash their
faces, and the harc'S foot is so suitable
for brush that it i3 always used to ap-
ply the paint" to tho face for tho stage.
Ono of the most charcling pets VIC have
kept, and tho most particular rs to wash
ing and brushing it's feet and fur. was a
lovely, brown opoSSum from Tasmania.
''Sooty pLalangist." was, We believe, its
scientific name; it was covered with
deep rich brown fur, had face some
thing like fox, pink nose, bands
with q naillcss thumb, and long claws
on tho fingers. 1t washed its feet every
two or three minutes. WatCr rats arc
very clean animals and wash and brush
their faces like Christians" We saw
one this summer on pond ut yelling,
in Kent, swim out to pick up the bios
EUms of an acacia tree which wCrc
falling on the water. After daintily
Eating each flower on the bank hC
licked his hands, wiped his mustachcs
and swan off for another. We also
tried an acacia blossom, but except q
slightly sweet flavor, could find moth
!ng to account for the rats tasGo for
them. Sporting dogs which are used in
mud, snow and wet. arc strangely clover
and quick in cleaning and drying theiI
coats, and it is q SIRE sign that n dog
has been over-tirod If he shows any
trace Of mud or dirt next morning
IIost Of their toilet is dono with tho
tongue, but they are very clover al
using thick box bush or the Sido Of &
hay8tacli as u rough towel Ono small
spaniel which VIC allowed to live in tho
housc was we'll aware that if no re
turned dirty he would not DO admit
srG indoors, About an hour before tho
.loso of the days shooting he used tx
strike work and begin to clean himself
end If urged to do'morc, would slip of
como and present himself neat ant
clean in the dining-room. Ono day thu
log bad been loft at homo, and hi
master returned and seated himself
vet, and with half-frozen drops q