PLUMAGE OF BIRDS. 103 



from the head in the most curious arid beautiful 

 manner. So richly are these creatures clothed, 

 that although their bodies are not larger than those 

 of the blackbird, yet from their quantity of plu- 

 mage they appear as large as the pigeon ; and it is 

 impossible for them to fly, except against the wind. 

 The dress of the humming-birds is equally splen- 

 did, and when they are seen flittering about amidst 

 the flowers they are quite dazzling to the eye. 

 Some of our own birds are also very richly drest 

 The feathers on the neck of the common cock, 

 when he is in complete plumage, possess a metal- 

 lic lustre hardly to be matched ; and the "eyes" 

 in the tail feathers of the peacock are as splendidly 

 bright as the golden breast of the green humming- 

 bird. The great crowned pigeon of the East 

 Indies is the most beautiful of the pigeon kind. 



Birds shed their feathers at certain periods of the 

 year, and have thus annually a new dress, fit to 

 preserve them from cold. This process is termed 

 moulting, and birds generally are weak and lan- 

 guid whilst it is going on. The largest feathers 

 are in the wings, and from these quills are made. 

 Some birds have no pinions or quill-feathers, and 

 on this account cannot fly, as these are requisite 

 to enable them to support themselves in the air. 

 The ostrich, the cassowary, the penguin, and some 

 others are in this condition. 



Every species of bird has its own peculiar voice. 

 Some of them easily imitate the song of others ; 

 and if a number of young birds are shut up with a 



