22 



THE BIRD'S FEATHERS 



A FEW words as to the feathers of the bird. The per- 

 fectly developed feather consists of a quill which grows 

 in the flesh, the stem becoming gradually thinner 

 towards the top and having lesser feathers on either side, 

 those on the one side of the 

 quill being narrower than 

 those on the other half. The 

 feathers overlap each other 

 exactly and densely espec- 

 ially those which protect 

 the main part of the body. 

 At the end of the quill of the 

 top feathers is a down which 

 takes the place of our under- 

 clothing, and which in the 

 case of waterfowl prevents 

 the water from penetrating 

 to the body of the bird. 

 There is also a pure down 

 which is composed of num- 

 erous stems; this is close 



and thick and protects the binding together of the 

 general plumage. The down has its fine quill and a 

 stem bearing the close down which in water fowls keeps 

 the warmth of the body at an even temperature whether 



in or out of the 

 water. It would be 

 an error to suppose 

 that the feathers 

 grow in the skin 

 without any order, 

 simply close to- 

 gether. They are 

 in point of fact 

 divided into areas 

 between which the 

 flesh is generally 



