Tombstone daily prospector., 1891-02-24
ANIMALS TOILETS.
sand Baths and Water Baths for Birds
 m

all ducks and divers. Mud serves for cold cream and vaseline; dust for fuller's earth and pearl powder, and important necessary. But birds espe- cially, says the London Spectator, are mighty particular about the quality of their ''toilctdust," 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. Paruidgcs are a good example of the lusti lg birds, and are most careful in the selection of their dust baths. Dry loam suits them best. But perhaps their fayorite 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, 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 dus' here 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 10 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 pass ing so much time 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 the rain to soak in, after which they dress the whole surface with oil from the reservoir which we mentioned above. Swallows and martins are as nice in their choice Of bath water as any professional beauty" nothing but newly fallen rain water thoroughly pleases them, and if tempted to bathe. it is general by some shallow pool in the road which an hours sun will evap- crate.
 We have never seen hawks or falcons bathing when wild. Trained birds, in good health. bathe almost daily, and the bath of poregrine falcon Is a very l careful performance. But no nymph 1 could bc more jealous of a witness than
 
 many careful glances in every direction | that the falcon descends from her block | ana wadcs into the shallow bath Then, | after more suspicious glances, she | thrusts her broad head under the water | and filings it on to 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-likc on the water. | and rapidly opens and shuts them, after ! which ste stooT,s down and splashes the | drops in every direction. The bath over, | she flies once more to the block, and turning her back 10 the sun, spreads | every feather of the wing and tail, raises those on the body, and assists the process of drying by a tremulous motion ! imparted to every quill, looking more | like an old cormOrant on a buoy than 9 | peregrine
 l Cats. large and small, make the most i careful toilet of any class of animal, with | the exception of some of the opossums. | The lions and tigers wash themselves in ! exactly the same manner as the cat, 1 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. The foot Is thus at the same time
 face sponge and brush, and the rough
 tongue combs the rest of the body. 1 flares also use their feet to wash their
 faces, and the hare's foot is so suitable ] for q brush that it is always used to ap- 1 p,S the paint" to the face for the stage.
 One of the most charming pets we have | kept, and the most particular as to wash. 1 ing and brushing its feet and fur. was a 1 lovely. brown opossum from Tasmania.
 "Sooty pLalangist." was, we believe, its
 scientific name; it was covered with i decp rich brown fur. had face some
 thing like a fox, pink nose, hands
 with nailless thumb. and long claws
 on the fingers. l. 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 this summer ou q pond at Yelling
 in Kent, swim out to pi;k up the bios
 sons of an acacia tree which were
 falling on the water. After daintily
 eating each flower on the bank ht
 licked his hands, wiped his mustache:
 and swan of for another. We alsc
 tried an acacia blossom, but except q
 slightly sweet flavor, could find noth
 ing to account for the rats taste fol
 them. Sporting dogs which are used ir
 mud, snow and wet. are strangely clever
 and quick in cleaning and drying theil
 coats. and it is sure sign that dos
 has been over-tired if he shows anI
 trace of mud or dirt next morning Most of their toilet is done with tn,
 tongue, but they are very clever a
 using a thick box bush or the side of [
 haystack as a rough towel. One smal
 spaniel which we allowed to live in tn,
 house was well aware that if he re
 turned dirty he wOall mt be admit
 ted indoors. About an hour before thu
 close of the days shooting he used t'
 strike work and begin 10 clean himself
 and fl urged to Go more. woEld slip o!
 hone ant prvscat Eiinssi If neat anS