Xew Series, November, 1905. 



35; 



Who can tell by the appearance of a feather what part of the bird's 

 body it came from ? Here is a good opportunity for bright eyes to observe 

 common sense styles in hens* clothing. I wanted to help you a little on 

 this question, therefore photographed some feathers. Notice how each 

 kind of feather has a particular utilit}- for which it is perfectly adapted. 

 Xo. 5 is a wing feather. Do you see how strong and broad it is to enable 

 the bird to fly? Xo. 4 is the beautiful curved sickle feather that adds 

 so much grace and beauty to the fowl. Which has sickle feathers, hens 

 or roosters? X*o. 3 is one of the tail coverts that cover up the wide 



Fig. 5. — Tliere are many different kinds of feathers on fcrvls. Haw many can you 



find on a hen or rooster f 



Strong main tail feathers that serve as a rudder with which to steer when 

 birds fly. X'o. 11 is a "fluff" feadier. How different it looks? All soft 

 and downv. It came from the under side of the bodv, back of the thieh^ 

 where there is great need of protection against excessive heat and cold, 

 but where there is less danger from injury, because less exposed, than anv 

 other part of the body. Hea\y. hard feathers would be in the way. No. 

 2 is — Oh ! I guess you would better catch a chicken and find out for 

 yourself what part of the body the rest of the feathers shown came from. 

 Do not make the mistake, however, of trying to find all the kinds of 

 feathers on a hen. Try a rooster. Xo. 12 is from the back of a pullet. 

 No. 13 is from the same place on a cockerel. Do you see the difference? 

 There is at least one more good reason wh}- hens have feathers. The 

 photograph shows it. ^^'ho knows what it is ? I will let you think about 

 this until you get your next Junior Xaturalist IMonthly. 



