FEATHER WORK. 195 



CHAPTEE V. 



FEATHER WORK. 



Loose feathers, of every shape and color, can be util- 

 ized in fancy work. Pretty pat- 

 terns for toilet mats, rugs, sofa- 

 cushions, and a variety of trim- 

 mings are easily made, and beauti- 

 ful lambrequins and brackets are 

 novel in comparison with designs of 

 common worsted-work. Feathers 

 from tropical birds are most valu- 

 able, on account of their bright col- 

 ors. Nearly all South American, 

 Australian, and East 

 Indian birds, have 

 gaudy feathers, with 

 graceful outlines for 

 ornamental work. In 

 Florida and the Gulf 

 States, parrakeets, 

 roseate spoon-bills, 

 ibises, herons, and 

 small birds abound, 

 their plumages being 

 brightest in May. 



In the Northern 

 States, some of the 

 smaller birds have 

 bright colors, such 

 as the scarlet tana- 

 ger, cardinal gros- 

 beak, orioles, wood- 

 peckers, blue-jay,and 

 many warblers. The gulls have pretty feathers, of snowy 

 white and pale-blue, and the birds of prey have richly 



PEATHEKS FOE TRIMMING. 



