288 



The Bird 



small African bird, called from its habits the Rock-jumper, 

 the wings are so small that the power of flight is almost 

 nil, and we find an interesting corollary in the plumage, 





Fig. 228. — Cassowary, showing the loose plumage of a flightless bird. (Sanborn, 

 photographer. Courtesy of X. Y. Zoological Society.) 



which is so loose and fluffy that it blows about in the 

 least wind. In the ostrich and rhea this down-like char- 

 acter is still more noticeable and extends even to the 

 feathers of the wings and tail. The extreme is to be found 



