THE FEATHERS. 6? 



colour alternately preponderating, as the direction of 

 the light is varied. The middle of the throat is occu- 

 pied by a large patch of the same colour, which, as it 

 approaches the breast, divides and forms a stripe on 

 each side. The chin and breast appear to be of an 

 intense velvety black, but when held in certain lights, 

 become glossed with the most beautiful reflections of 

 lilac and purple. The feathers on the body are yet 

 more changeable ; in some directions, they seem entirely 

 black ; in others, this apparent black is mingled with a 

 rich olive green ; while, in another position, it is bril- 

 liantly reflected and relieved by shades of lilac, purple, 

 -and the most vivid green. All this gorgeous apparel, how- 

 ever, is confined to the males, the female being clothed in 

 a homely and russet-brown attire, attracting little notice. 

 Of a feather's lightness, we may form some idea when 

 we find that the largest quill of a Golden Eagle weighs 

 only sixty-five grains, and that seven such quills do not 

 weigh more than a copper penny-piece ; that the feathers 

 of a common fowl, which weighs thirty-seven ounces, 

 weigh only three ounces ; and that the entire plumage 

 of an Owl weighs only one ounce and a half. Meant as 

 they are, some for covering and some for strength, we 

 shall find them, on examination, very differently put to- 

 gether. The light downy part, when examined through 

 -a microscope, will bo found to bear little resemblance to 

 the flat part or blade of the quill. If it were not so, a 

 bird would scarcely be able to fly at all ; for when the 

 flat of the wing was pressed down, the air would pass 

 through it and yield no resistance. The fibres of the 

 downy part, we see, have little connexion with each 

 other; they have short and loose side shoots, just suffi- 

 cient to mat them together when pressed close to the 

 skin ; whereas, the side shoots of the quill-feather hook 

 and grapple with one another, so as to make one firm 

 and united surface. Some idea of this may be formed 

 from the annexed figures, the second of which represents 

 a piece of the finest down magnified. 



F 2 



