SOME SUGGESTIONS FOB BIRD STTOY'. ' lOl 



Further reference to the quill feathers may be omitted at 

 this stage. They are dealt with later in a study of the wing. 



When the body of the pigeon is divested of the contour 

 feathers, we discover beneath them a set of very delicate 

 hair-like feathers. These are so small that they cannot be 

 plucked by hand. The familiar practice of singeing a bird 

 passing it through the flames after plucking has for its 

 object the removal of these hair-feathers or " filo-plumes." 

 The filo-plumes have a delicate tuft at their tips (Fig. 25 F). 



Besides filo-plumes young feathers in various stages of 

 growth within a sheath will be found. If these are re- 

 moved a semi-fluid substance, perhaps mixed with blood, 

 will be found oozing from the base. This is the nourish- 

 ing substance from which the feather is built up. 

 Compare the dry base of the fully grown feather. 



The general development of a feather might be out- 

 lined if not considered too difficult, but that is best con- 

 sidered after the structure of the fully developed feather 

 is understood. 



Although down feathers do not occur on the pigeon, for 

 the sake of completeness they ought to be mentioned 

 (Fig. 25 D). 



LESSON II. The Wing of a Bird. 



On the wing of a bird we can feel three divisions. 

 When the wing is closed these three parts lie folded 

 closely together, arranged like the parts of the letter Z. 

 If a fresh wing is available it should be spread out and 

 closed in turn until the relations of the parts are clearly 

 grasped. Next the pupils may be asked to note the three 

 divisions of their own arm. These are the upper arm 

 (above the elbow), the lower arm (from elbow to wrist), 

 and the hand. Pupils should endeavour to fold their 

 arms as a bird does its wings upper* arm downwards, 

 lower arms upward alongside, hands downward. This 

 last cannot be done, but the exercise will help to make 

 clear some points of interest. 



A bird's wing consists of upper arm, lower arm, and 

 hand. (Both birds and human beings have got a wrist in 



