The Audubon Societies 471 



known as 'pin-feathers.' They are clustered about the bases of contour- 

 feathers. Examined closely, they are seen to have a very tiny vane at the tip, 

 but their general appearance is so different from that of a perfect feather that 

 they resemble hairs, or bristles, or eyelashes more than feathers. 



Powder-down feathers are a peculiar kind of down-feathers, that seem to 

 bear a 'dry, waxy powder.' They grow indefinitely but keep breaking off at 

 the tips, diffusing this powder through the other feathers in their vicinity. 

 Not all birds have this kind of feathers, but those which do find them 

 useful in keeping the plumage clean. 



QUESTIONS 



1. Can you think of any reason why the plumes of the ostrich are so loosely locked 

 together? If an ostrich could fly, what would it need to make the wing-feathers true 

 'flight-feathers?' 



2. What is the meaning of plume? of the prefi.x semi? of the prefix filo? of the 

 words semiplume and filoplume? 



3. Do you understand the meaning of the word feather better after looking up its 

 derivation? 



4. What does the word plumage mean? 



5. How do the quills of the porcupine compare with the feathers of birds? 



6. What birds have feathers below the heel? Why? 



7. What birds have powder-down feathers? 



8. Can you think of any differences between feathers and fur and hair? 



REFERENCES 



Look in the Century Dictionary and Encyclopedia Brittannica for illustrations of 



feathers, filoplume and aftershaft. 

 See Chapman's Handbook of Birds of Eastern North America, p. 84 : The Plumage 



of Birds. .\. H. W. 



FOR AND FROM ADULT AND YOUNG OBSERVERS 



A CANARY AT LARGE THROUGH A NEW 

 ENGLAND WINTER 



On August 29, 1914, 1 saw from the house a bird which I entered in my note- 

 book as a Canary. Three times in September it was seen feeding on the lawn 

 with a large flock of English Sparrows, September 17 being the .last date. On 

 December 12, we were astonished at its appearance, in company with three or 

 four Sparrows, on a tree within twenty feet of our window. The day was mild, 

 but we had had snow and severe cold, through which it seemed impossible for a 

 Canary to have survived. We questioned ourselves, "Is it a Canary, or an 

 albino Sparrow, or some other bird?" It was again observed on January«j4y 

 February i and 16, and March 11 and 12, 191 5. Careful observation convinced 



