and the Down of domestic Fowls. 215 



transparent, shining, and, in a word, proper for acquiring 

 the necessary qualities. This preparation is generally giveu 

 to ihem bv the Dutch. Hence the expression o^ di/tc/dfi/- 

 irig quills to denote the operation to which they are sub- 

 jected. I took advantage of the circumstances of the war, 

 when several apothecaries, acquainted with the arts and sci- 

 ences, were employed in Batavia, to request them to pro- 

 cure some information in re(i;ard to a process which is still 

 very little known. The following is the substance of what 

 was conutmnicatcd to me : 



The process consists in immersing the quill, when plucked 

 from the wing of the bird, into water almost boiling; to 

 leave it there till it becomes sufficiently soft ; to compress 

 it, turning it on its axis with the back of the blade of a 

 knife. This kind of friction, as well as the immersions in 

 water, being continued till the barrel of the quill be trans- 

 parent, and the membrane as well as the greasy kind of co- 

 vering be entirelv removed, it is inmiersed a last time to 

 render it perfectly cylindrical, which is performed with the 

 index finger and the thumb : it is then dried in a gentle 

 temperature. 



Feathers and Doxvn for Cushions. 



Pillows, mattresses, and cushions, mav be filled with the 

 small feathers of domestic fowls and pigeons. There are 

 some cantons in which they are employed for this purpose; 

 but for the most part the down of the palmipedes is chosen. 

 Those of birds of prev might be employed also, were they 

 suflicientlv numerous to promise abundance. 



There are two kinds of down. One, which is neglected, 

 consists of light soft barbs, open, bristly, and without con- 

 nection, which cover a iireat many young birds soon after 

 birth, aud which drop oft' in proportion as thev are deve- 

 lojjed. The other, nu)re adherent, which are carefuliv col- 

 lected, consist of those short feathers, with slender barrels, 

 and long, equal, disimited barbs, with which nature has 

 composed the warm clothing of birds which take a high 

 flight, and I hose which are aquatic, in order to secure them 

 from the cold they would otherwise experience, the one in 

 the up])er regions of the atmosphere, and the other from 

 the contact of the water. This down in the latter is co- 

 vered with a close oily plumage, which preserves it entirely 

 Irom humidity, and by these means permits these birds to 

 preserve their natural heat. 



The down of birds of prev, known under the name of 

 eider down, being, as already said, exceedingly rare, col- 

 lectors endeavour to obtain only that of palmipedes ; a very 

 4 numerous 



