266 ROUND THE YEAR 



from which they spring, and this projecting edge is, in 

 some feathers at least, scolloped. The distal barbules 

 bear a number of hooks on their inner edge (inner 

 here means the side next the body of the bird), and 

 these hooks catch the scolloped edges of several 

 barbules, and hold them strongly, but not rigidly. 

 They can stretch a little and can also slide a little, 

 though the scollops prevent them from sliding too 



FIG. 65. Parts of three barbs in section showing their proximal (upper) and distal 

 (lower) barbules. The small diagram illustrates the action of the hooks upon 

 the edges of the proximal barbules. 



easily. If they have been gently detached from the 

 proximal barbules, they can be replaced by stroking, 

 and this is no doubt often done when a bird smooths 

 its ruffled feathers with its bill, but rough handling 

 breaks or distorts the hooks, and they never adhere 

 properly again. When the barbules have beea 

 studied and drawn, they may be modelled with great 

 advantage. The barbs may be represented by bars of 



