The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1899-08-03
TOILET OF THE HouSEYLY. :,
It's Lexs. Wtsss SD MssA Msssase1
ssa Brsshed fer sse nsy.s Wsss.


ssa nrsshed for sse Dsy-s wssk.
in the quiet Of the early morning"
iaid the naturalist. the houscay
makes its toilet. and if one wants 20
see an Interesting proceeding Bet him
watch the ny's busy hours Of the day
II In often seen 90 plume itself. but only
for nm instant Its real toilet making
takes Dearly quarter Of nm hour.
The fiy begins 10y brushing iss head
with the farsi and tiblae of its fwo
forelegs. I'm the manner 20 often noflced
when the insect rests for q moment
during the day. After q thorcug's
combing and brushing az the head and
rubbing of the face. the operation IL
carried On systematically from the
head down the left side. n,,e two front
legs first being carefully rubbed and
dressed after the he>-d cleansing. The
second leg on tb- left hand side is
then taken In ha,.d. and. held well for
ward. IL thoroughly manipulated by the
tarsi and tib.ne 81 the forclegs. which
means by the nrficulafed feet and the
shin or front part of the legs. In the
cleansing OF this leg the ny's proisosc.s
also plays nm active part supplying
moisture and distributing a. The src-
ond leg ON that side being satisfaction
lily massared and manicurcd. the left
hind legs are next In line for treatment.
The dressing OF these is done Ivy the
leg just manipulated. one at o time.
The ny brushes and rubs with this icx.
frequently passing if forward Go have
:. cleased I'm turn 10y the forriegs. and
,.loisfcned by the proboscis. In fhis
thorough preparation for the duties at
the day the ny pays particular affen-
tion 10 cleansing or manipulating the
tarsi. as II II was Of the utmost i'm
portance that they should Ire free from
all obstruction.
AS soon as the left hind legs arc in
a condition satisfactory 20 the ny. they
I'm turn are brought into service ss
toilet brushes. They alone sre us~d
In brushing the under surface Of the
wings. While doing this the legs are
passed forward after every few
strokes. 10 be in turn cicanscd by the
leg In front Of them OF whatever for
eign substances they removed from
the wings. The cleaning Of the upslrr
surface and the fore edges Of the
wings being finished the 6y starts In
10 do up It's right side. It's head. ha--
ing been shampooed st the begianin;.-
needs no more attention. but the front
legs and feet have another ovcrhs ulir:
before work is resumed. The 0riy
| thing 20 do on the right side. though.
In TO massage and manicure the s~c-
| ond leg on that stde. and for some
reason this is done more lighf'y y
and apparently less thoroughly than is
the case Of the companlon Iex an Z, .
left side. After II In done what s~~fr 6
10 be the most important part Of the
entire proceeding is performed This
is the dressing Of the upper surface of
the wings. This n done by drawinS
them longitudinally many times l'r-
tween the two hind legs. which aTe
frequently manipulated during the
operation by both the right and iefs
second leg. TO which the proboscis cDr.
tributes Of whatever II possesses q ne
I'm the manipulation When This treat
ment Of the wings In completed tbey
giisten like polished silver. During sl,s
manipulation of the wings particular
attention seems 10 be paid BY the ~
to their front edges. ~ they are gons
over carefully several times In &c
brushing Of both the under and ups-s
surface. The dressing Of the wing
finished. the ny gives . sort of se:f
congratulatory dab or two 10 its facs
with fits forefeet. and buxses away
ready for q feast or for fun On . batl
| bead."-New York Sun