One hundred years ago
ANIMALS' TOILETTES.
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE SPECTATOR.]
Sir, — In the interesting paper on this subject which appeared in your columns on September 27th, it is well shown that, among other animals, man can claim no monopoly of personal cleanli- ness; but no allusion is made to one cosmetic operation which is generally supposed to be exclusively human, namely, shaving. It has been discovered that even in this he is not original. There is a pretty South American bird, the Motmot (Motmotus braziliensis), which actually begins shaving on arriv- ing at maturity. Naturally adorned with long blue tail-feathers, it is not satisfied with them in their natural state, but with its beak nips off the web on each side for a space of about two inches, leaving a neat little oval tuft at the end of each. Specimens of this bird may be seen at the Natural History Museum at South Kensington, and a full account of it may be found in the Journal of the London Zoological Society for 1873. I am, Sir, &c., HERBERT MAXWELL The Spectator, 11 October 1890
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