370 



THE AMERICAN MUSEUM JOURNAL 



A full clipping of the prime feathers from an ostrich cock may 

 weigh from ten to fourteen ounces, and be worth from fifty to one 

 hundred dollars 



A fact wiiieli is most 

 impressive to the phys- 

 iologist is the extraor- 

 dinarily sensitive na- 

 ture of the feather 

 growth. Unless the bird 

 is maintained in the 

 highest nutritive con- 

 dition throughout the 

 six months required 

 for a feather crop to 

 grow and mature, the 

 character and quality 

 of the plumage suffer. 

 Any imperfection of 

 growth greatly depre- 

 ciates the plume in 

 \alue. often to the ex- 

 tent of one half or 

 tliH'e quarters. The 

 feather is an epider- 

 mal product, nour- 



These are wing plumes from the first, second, third, and fourth clippings. The plumes of the first 

 clipping, termed "spadonas," are not of much value. Plumes usually continue to improve to the third 

 or fourth clipping, and with proper management the bird will yield the same quality of plumage for 

 many years 



