Feathers. 2 7 



southern inland haunt. He also shoots her some 

 jays, whose wings — as likewise the black-and-white 

 magpie — are used for the same decorative purposes. 

 Certain feathers from the jay are sought by the 

 gentlemen who visit the great house, to make arti- 

 ficial flies for salmon-fishing. Of kingfishers she 

 preserves a considerable number for ladies' hats, and 

 some for glass cases. Once or twice she has been 

 asked to prepare the woodpecker, whose plumage 

 and harsh cry entitle him to the position of the 

 parrot of our woods. Gentlemen interested in natural 

 history often commission her husband to get them 

 specimens of rare birds ; and in the end he generally 

 succeeds, though a long time may elapse before they 

 cross his path. For them she has prepared some of 

 the rare owls and hawks. She has a store of pea- 

 cocks' feathers — every now and then people, especially 

 ladies, call at the cottage and purchase these things. 

 Country housewives still use the hare's 'pad' for 

 several domestic purposes — was not the hare's foot 

 once kept in the printing-offices ? 



The keeper's wife has nothing to do with rabbits, 

 but knows that their skins and fur are still bought in 

 large quantities. She has heard that geese were once 

 kept in large flocks almost entirely for their feathers, 

 which were plucked twice a year, she thinks ; but this 



