XXVI 
HIS DRESS 
A BIRD’s whole dress is made of feathers, but 
the feathers are not all alike. There are, indeed, 
several kinds of feathers, and four of them are 
found on every bird. There are flight feathers, 
clothing feathers, downy feathers, thread feathers, 
and powder-down feathers. 
Feathers of all kinds are made in the same 
way. All have, first, a quill, the horny part next 
to the body ; second, a shaft, the white part on 
which the barbs grow; third, the barbs, which 
grow out on each side of the shaft, and together 
are called the vane ; fourth, the barbules, or little 
barbs, growing out of the barbs; and last, the 
barbicels, which grow on the barbules, and on 
the wings have the tiny hooks which hold them 
together. 
But though feathers are made on the same 
pattern, they look very different. The wing and 
tail feathers are stiff and strong, and are called 
flight feathers, but those on the breast and body 
