THE STRUCTURE OF A FEATHER 



265 



the base of the quill ; these, in accordance with 

 ordinary anatomical nomenclature, may be called 

 the //m7>;/tf/ barbules. The other set points towards 

 the tip of the quill and will be the distal barbules. 



FIG. 6 4 .-Two barbules of a feather. The left-hand one points owards the base of 

 the feather (proximal barbiile), while the right-hand one points towards the 

 tip (distal barbule). The distal barbule bears the hooks. 



The distal barbules of every barb overlie the proxi- 

 mal ones of the next barb, crossing several of them 

 obliquely. The proximal barbules have the outer 

 dge turned over at a right angle towards the barb 



