Rural School Leaflet 835 



bering her toes with the hindmost projecting toe as first, how many toes 

 has she? 



7. Where does the hen sleep? How does she keep her hold on the 

 perch while sleeping? 



8. Can you see the hen's nostrils? Are they large? Describe the sur- 

 face surrounding them. Do you think that the hen has a keen sense 

 of smell? Why? 



9. Has a hen ears? Where are they and how do they look? Have 

 they lobes, and, if so, do you think these lobes are ornamental or an aid 

 to hearing? 



10. What is the color of the hen's eyes? What is the shape of the 

 pupil? How does the hen wink? Can you see a little film -lid come out 

 of the corner of the eye and cover it when she is drowsy? Do you think 

 the hen can see far and well? How far off can she see a hawk? Can 

 she see an object with both eyes at once? Why does the hen turn her 

 head first this way and then that, when looking at you? What advantage 

 is it to the hen to have her eyes directed sidewise instead of both focusing 

 in the same direction? 



1 1 . How does the covering of birds differ from the covering of animals ? 

 Study a feather and learn the shaft or quill, the web, the fluff, the barbs, 

 and the barbules. If you have a microscope, or even a good double lens, 

 examine a wing feather and see the little hooks on the barbules which 

 hold the web together. 



1 2 . How are the feathers arranged on the back of a hen ? Why ? How 

 does the hen look when standing in the rain? 



13. How are the feathers arranged on the breast? Compare a feather 

 from the back with a breast feather and note the difference. 



14. Are both ends of a breast feather alike, and, if not, what is the 

 difference? Is the fluffy part on the outside or next to the bird's skin? 

 Why? Why is the smooth part of the feather on the outside? 



15. When feathers are all fluff what are they called? At what age 

 is a fowl entirely covered with down? 



16. What is a pinfeather? 



17. How do hens keep their feathers oily so that they will shed water? 

 Where does the hen get the oil? Describe how she oils her feathers and 

 which ones she oils most. Is she likely to oil her feathers just before 

 a rain ? 



18. When you have an opportunity, look at a fowl all plucked ready 

 for market or oven, and see how the wings of a bird correspond with 

 the front legs of an animal or the arms of a human being. 



19. Examine the wing of a hen with the feathers on. How are the 

 feathers arranged to press down on the air? How does a bird lift itself 



