On the Feathers and Doivn of doinestic Fowls. 211 



be formed, through which a current will spirt while the 

 supply is on, and as long afterwards as any water remains in 

 the pipe. This hole may be stopped witha nail ingeneral, and 

 oulv kft open in frosty weather j when the water, which 

 will run to waste at each supply, will scarcely exceed a few 

 pails full. In pipes that are already laid, should the lowest 

 part of the course not he conveniently situated for the drain- 

 ing of the pipe, as in an area, or over a sink, such alteration 

 must be made in shaping the course of the pipe, as will 

 place its lotvermost part \i\ a convenient situation for dravn^ 

 ing. But in pipes that arc to be new laid (if what I have 

 already said is understood) it will be obvious, that when a 

 deflection between the main and cistern is necessar}', the 

 lowest angle or part thereof should be fixed in a convenient 

 situation for draining the pipe, a.s over a s'mk ; and to this 

 point the whole of the pipe must incline, I have taken 

 some pains in examining the laying of pipes in manufacto- 

 ries, &c. ; and I have met with no instance wherein the ne- 

 cessary deflections of a pipe might not be reduced to o/ie 

 lowermost angle, to effect the exhaustion of the ivhole 

 course. 



Should the small current alluded to be found an objection, 

 as continuing during the whole of the supply, the peg need 

 only be removed for one or two minutes, within a few 

 hours after the supply has ceased, when the waste water 

 will be drawn off before a formation of ice can take place. 



XXXVIII. Experiments and Observations on Feathers, and 

 the Down of' domestic Fowls. By M. Parmentier*. 



JlSirds are caught and reared not only for the sake of their 

 flesh, their fat, and their eggs, but also on account of their 

 feathers: the feathers, given them by nature for their 

 cloihing, and to form their principal means of flight, are 

 applied todiflVrent purposes more or less useful to society. 



Some, remarkable for their softness and elasticity, for the 

 beauty of the filan\ents of which their barbs arc coniposed, 

 serve to overshadow the helmets of warriors, to ornament 

 the liead-dress of ladies, to form tliose tresses and those 

 elegant plumes by which the richest articles are surmountcd.i 



Oihers, soughtfor on account of the length and soliditv of 

 their 'uarrel*^ and the facility with which they can be cut at 



• From An>i(i!fr <li Cinit, No. m. 



2 pleaj-urg 



