and the Down of domestic Fowls. 213 



feathers found on the lateral part of the thighs of these ani- 

 mals. This substitute for ostrich feathers would become 

 useful to commerce. 



Besides the large ostrich feathers which are seen waving 

 with so much grace over the head-dress of ladies, there are 

 some taken from other birds which serve also for ornament- 

 ing these heads : of this kind are the feathers of the bird of 

 paradise, and particularly the long and beautiful black fea- 

 thers which proceed from the top of the head of the heron, 

 forming an aigrette, which is balanced on their neck. 



Luxury adorns itself also with the feathers of the peacock : 

 the colours of gold and of precious stones which nature has 

 bestowed in profusion on the tail of this beautiful bird, are 

 its exclusive property ; those of the golden birds, the hum- 

 ming bird, and others of the large family of the woodpeckers 

 exhibit the freshness and velvety appearance of flowers, the 

 polish of the most brilliant metals, the splendour of the 

 most precious stones, and the variegated and dazzling re- 

 flection of the rays of the sun. It has employed, in trim- 

 ming robes, the beautiful yellow and brilliant feathers of 

 the neck of the toucan. It has not even disdained to use, 

 for the like purpose, the azured feathers of the jay, and 

 with which that in the fable was not contented. 



So active a war was carried on some time ago against 

 these birds, in order to obtain their feathers, that the far- 

 mers flattered themselves with the hope of being soon freed 

 from them. Unfortunately the rage for the feathers of the 

 jay is over, and that bird continues, as before, to ravage 

 the fields. 



Not satisfied with objects of ornament, for which luxury 

 employed those feathers, embellished with the most bril- 

 liant colours, the idea has been conceived of rendering them 

 useful. 



It is with skins furnished with feathers of tbe same birds, 

 to which arc added those of the swan, duck, diver, pintado, 

 pheasant, &c. that muffs and palatines are made. 



The skins destined for this purpose, says M. Vieillot in 

 t!ie Nouvcau Dicliuiuunre d" Hiitohe Naturelte, ought not to 

 he those of birds which have died of disease, or which have 

 been killed in moulting-time; in this case the feathers would 

 drop ofl', or would not be in a state of perfccticm. None, 

 therefore, must be employed but those of birds killed in their 

 state of perfection, and stripped off soon after their death, 

 especially when the weather is hot; otherwise the same ef- 

 fects would result from corruption as from disease. 



When the skin has been freed from all its impurities, it 

 3 is 



