Feathers 29 



and cuddled and fed for many weeks, before they learn 

 to take care of themselves; while birds lower in the 

 scale — as our quail — are born covered thickly with 

 down and with wings nearly feathered, and in a few days 

 can fiy and find their own food. 



So a bird naked at birth is ver}^ helpless, one covered 

 with down is more capable of taking care of itself, while 



Fig. 17. — Nestling Kingfisher with feathers still in their sheaths. 

 2/3 natural size. 



the few which are completely feathered when hatched 

 may be said to have no chickhood except in the egg. 



In the Crested Screamer (Fig. 264) the down-Kke 

 character of the body-feathers of the adult birds may be 

 a hint of the plumage of very ancient types of birds such 

 as Archceopteryx. 



Now we are ready to begin our stud}^ of the perfect 

 feather itself, and we will, for once, have to disregard 

 our rule of starting with the simpler form — the scale of 



