Louanna Johnson, age 6. of Dallas, Texas.

 What keeps ducks from getting wet?

You would expect a lily white duck to get sopping wet every time he went into the pond, But she doesn’t. She seems to waddle out as dry as she went in. Even when she has been tipping upside down and bibbling with her bill on the floor of the pond.

Actually, the water runs off those shiny, lily white feathers. The expression about water running off a duck's back is quite true. Water always runs off an oily surface and Mrs. Duck takes care to keep her feathers well oiled. She carries her oiling kit with her. Near her tail there are special glands that make the oil. She applies it with her yellow bill.

Watch the white lady when she comes out of the water. She gets busy at once, preening her feathers. She pokes at her oil glands to get her bill nice and greasy. Then she bites along each feather, applying the oil. She does not go back into the water until she is sure that every drop will go rolling off those smooth, brilliantined feathers. Almost all birds preen themselves with oily brilliantine. The ducks and other water base use more oil on their feathers