moult is required to replace one of them. The Jap- 

 anese have discovered the secret of this check, and 

 are able by it to keep certain feathers in tlie tails 

 of their cocks growing until they reach the enormous 

 length of ten to twelve feet. 



My crow, it seems, lost his three feathers just after 

 his annual moult; the three broken shafts he carries 

 still in his wing, and must continue to carry, as 

 the stars must continue their courses. These three 

 feathers must round out their cycle to the annual 

 moult. The universe of worlds and feathers is a uni- 

 verse of law, of order, and of reason. 



