Feathers axd Flight. 



139 



First of ;ill, it is necessary to state that feathers 

 are composed of the same material as hairs and 

 nails. They vary <^reatly in size, shape, texture, 

 and strength, according to the portion of the body 



UAli I.M n 



II). 



iqxiii which tliry grow and tlie lile and haltils of 

 their wearers. 



A Hight-feather taken fmni either the wing or 

 tail of a bird and studied under a moderately 

 powerful luicroscope shows liow ingeniously it has 

 been constructed so as not to allow the air to slip 

 through it. It consists of a central shaft, or quill, from 

 either side of which shoot out flattened branches, 

 or barbs. These branches, in turn, throw (nit nuich 



