The Molting of T'owls. 



367 



will become main tail feathers (Fig. 2). The down grows longer and, 

 on certain areas of the body, develops shafts. Within a few days the 

 shafts burst open, allowing the web of the feather to spread out; but 

 the down often clings to the tip of the opened feather (Figs, i, 2, 3a, 4a). 



Fig. 2. — White Leghorn chick four days old, shozvDig the development ol tail a)id wing. 

 Notice the down tips still clinging to a few of both tail and wing feathers, while 

 others have been shed. 



The ragged appearance to be noticed on two or three weeks' old chicks 

 is due to this clinging of the down tips. 



Sequence in the growth of feathers. 



The first body-feathers to appear are those at the throat, just above 

 the crop (Figs. 5, 6, 7). From this point, a line of feathers extends 



