34^ Junior Naturalist I\Ionthly. 



or catch cold, or have their bare skin bitten by mosquitoes? And how 

 could they fly away from their enemies?. Did you ever notice crows fly 

 with big holes in both wings ? I have, and I used to wonder whether some 

 one had shot the feathers out. Do you think I was right? 



W^atch the birds and chickens and see whether they shed their 

 feathers all at once or only a' few at a time. Which way do you think 

 would be better? Examine the wings and learn whether siinilar feathers 

 are shed from each wing at the same time. Could the birds fly if all 

 the feathers were shed first from one wing and then from the other? 

 Did you ever see a hen try to fly with one wing clipped? 



It is interesting to know where the feathers come from and how 

 they grow. Look for yourselves and see the pin feathers imder the skin. 

 Notice how they push through and spread out like plumes ; then form 

 the quill and the web with all its beautiful colors. 



Yes, I did say birds and chickens have several suits of clothes. These 

 suits are adapted to variovis conditions of season and age. Do you know 

 that the little bird called the ptarmigan has a white suit of clothes when 

 the ground is covered with snow and a dark suit of clothes during the 

 summer? By this change of feathers he is less likely to be seen by his 

 enemies. At first little chickens have their downy " baby clothes ;" then 

 their short pointed feathers, or " short clothes," and later when they are 

 grown up they have their full sized feathers or " long clothes." When 

 chickens are all dressed up in their best clothes and ready for company, 

 we say they are in full plumage or full plumed, ready for exhibition. You 

 see now that chickens have clothes after all. 



Sonic Questions for Xafuralisfs 



1. At what time of the year do fowls moult? 



2. Which feathers do the chickens shed first? Which last? Which 

 in pairs? 



3. Do hens lay while they are moulting? 



4. Do fowls seek seclusion during the moulting season ? Why ? 



LESSON IL WHEN IS A PLANT A WEED? 

 Herbert Whetzel 

 When is a plant a weed? Here is a conundrum for you and the 

 answer is : " When the plant is where it is not wanted." Let us see 

 whether this is a good answer. I think the teasel is quite familiar to 

 most of the children in New York State, especially to the boys and girls 

 living in the country. Those of you who live in the central part of the 

 State have seen great cultivated fields of it. Perhaps you have helped 

 to hoe it when it was small and planted in the rows with corn. Some 

 of you may even have carried the basket before you and clipped oflf the 

 large king heads when they were ready for the fuller. 



