SOME SUGGESTIONS FOR BIRD STUDY. 99 



keep up the temperature, being bad conductors they retain 

 the body heat ; they give an even contour to the body 

 which is of service in flight. They usually contain colour- 

 ing matter, and are often iridescent as well. White 

 feathers have no pigment, but contain gas in their internal 

 spaces. 



Separate lessons should be given on feathers. 



LESSON I. The kinds of feathers found on an ordinary 

 bird, e.g. Pigeon. We may divide them into two large 

 groups in the first instance. 



(a) The feathers which give the regularly rounded 

 shape to the bird's body. 



Contour Feathers. Emphasise the appropriateness of 

 this name by contrasting the contour of a live bird with 

 the angularity of a dead plucked one. These feathers 

 vary in size and texture, some are soft and almost downy, 

 others are more compact and firm. They are mostly 

 curved. 



(6) Quill Feathers. These are the large feathers of 

 importance in flight. The " rowers " of the wings, and 

 the " steerers " of the tail. Make use of the spread wing 

 to show the " rowers " ; expand the tail to show the quills 

 clearly. 



There are other types to be found on closer study. 



Meantime we return to the contour feathers. We shall 

 not discuss all the grouping of these on the body as recog- 

 nised by the skilled ornithologist, beyond noting the larger 

 and stronger looking ones amongst them which cover the 

 bases of the quills. These are known as coverts, and we 

 recognise upper and under wing coverts, upper and under 

 tail* coverts. There are also back coverts, and in many 

 birds a distinct tuft covering the ear-hole, known as the 

 ear coverts. These things are marked on the diagram 

 (Fig. 31). The teacher should draw the outline of a bird 

 upon the board and fill in the details as they are verified. 

 A knowledge of these simple terms will be found useful in 

 writing out descriptions of birds. 



