Feathers and Flight. 



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FLIGHT FFATHEK (1) OF OWL, (2) OF PIGEON [p. 148). 



many species drop the dull, nnobtnisive portions 

 of their garments and don the gay and decorative 

 plumes of the marriage season. 



Nature has wisely ordained that the shedchng 

 of old feathers shall be as gradual as the growth of 

 the new ones, and that when a flight feather drops 

 from the right wing its fellow shall, at the same 

 time, fall from the left, so as to maintain a correct 

 balance in the powers of flight. 



I once knew a London lady who had migrated 

 to the country cut both wings of her Fowls in 

 order to prevent them from flying over the fence 

 dividing tht-ir run from a neighbour's garden. By 

 a little extra effort, the birds still managed to scale 

 the boundary wall, and their owner declared that 

 wing-clip[)ing was no remedy unless carried to a 

 disfio^urino^ extent. I told her to cut the feathers 



