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THE LIFE OF A BIRD. 



overlapping of their tips, their different configu- 

 ration in different parts, not to mention the 

 variety of their colours, constitute a vestment 

 for the body, so beautiful, and so appropriate to 

 the life which the animal is to lead, as that, I 

 think, we should have had no conception of any- 

 thing equally perfect, if we had never seen it, or 

 can now imagine anything more so." 



Let us speak of a single feather first, and after- 

 wards advert to the general arrange- 

 ment of the feathers over the body 

 of the bird. All feathers have cer- 

 tain general characters, which are 

 universally applicable, whatever may 

 be their varieties of size, consistence, 

 and colour. The accompanying dia- 

 gram represents the various parts of 

 a feather. These parts are the quill, 

 or barrel, (1), the shaft, (2), and 

 the vane, or beard, (3); the vane 

 consists of barbs and barbules. 



The quill, by which the feather is 

 attached to the body of the bird, is 

 an admirable specimen of lightness, 

 combined with rigidity and firmness. At the 

 lower end is a small hole (4) leading into the cavity * 



