1 76 The Field Naturalist's Quarterly Aug. 



any species are chosen in preference to others by the females, 

 and so tend to perpetuate their pecuharities, while the weaker 

 and less brilliant go to the wall. Then, again, the plumage 

 of many birds closely resembles their natural surroundings ; 

 examples are found among a number of the Game Birds and 

 others, such as woodcock, grouse, ptarmigan, snipe, curlew, 

 sandpipers, plover, and many more. 



A word concerning some of the uses to which feathers are 

 put by man. 



Firstly, for bedding and upholstery. The down of the 

 eider-duck, as is well known, is used extensively in this 

 direction. The feathers of swans, geese, ducks, domestic 

 fowls, and the rest are used principally for bedding. 



Secondly, for writing purposes. The earliest period on 

 record when quill pens were used for writing was in the sixth 

 century, and they continued to be the chief kind of writing 

 instrument until steel pens were introduced. Hence the 

 name " pen," from the Latin penna, a feather. The quills 

 for this purpose are best when taken from living birds in the 

 spring, and the goose furnishes by far the largest number. 

 The swan, crow, eagle, hawk, owl, and turkey are also 

 made use of, both for pens and for camel-hair brushes. 

 The five outer wing feathers are the ones which are used, 

 and those of the left wing in preference to those of the 

 right, because they would curve outwards away from the 

 writer. 



Feathers as ornamental decorations did not come into 

 general use among, what we must call, civilised nations until 

 the thirteenth century. They were in great demand during 

 the reign of Elizabeth — ostrich plumes being in greatest re- 

 quest. It is needless to say that among savage and half- 

 civilised races feathers are still the chief decorations for 

 head-gear, &c., and I have seen them in use among the 

 North American Indians. 



I cannot leave the subject of feathers for head-gear with- 

 out saying something about the cruelty involved in procuring 

 the feathers of the various kinds of egrets and herons — called 

 by milliners " ospreys." The different species of herons, 

 notably the little egret, only have the " plumes " during the 

 breeding season, and they thus form their " nuptial plumage." 



