THE PIGEON 179 



(5) Remove a large feather from the wing and study it. 



a. Notice the place on the wing from which it came. 

 Is the feather torn from the wing, or does there seem to be 

 a natural depression ? Is there anything left in the depres- 

 sion ? If so remove it and study it carefully to see if it 

 resembles any other part of the covering. 



b. Study the lower part of the feather, the quill. Does 

 it show evidence of direct union with the flesh, or does' it 

 seem to come out of a socket? Observe the point of the 

 quill. Does it have an opening in it ? Is there any evidence 

 there of a direct connection with the body? Cut a section 

 of the quill and observe the interior. Do you think it grew 

 from the inside or the outside? How does the quill com- 

 pare with the other coverings of the body? 



c. The remaining part of the feather consists of the 

 shaft, or rhachis, extending up the middle of the feather ; and 

 the vane, or flattened part, attached to the rhachis. Separate 

 the parts of the vane and note their attachment to the rha- 

 chis. Do they extend into the rhachis or do they come from 

 the epidermis only? What do you think is their origin? 

 Study the parts, or barbs of the vane. Why do they cling 

 together? If you pull them apart, do they return at once 

 to their former condition? Put a few of them under the 

 low power of the microscope. What do you find? The 

 small projections from the barbs are the harbules. 



Draw several barbules enlarged. 



Make a drawing of the entire feather (XJ^)- 



d. Look among the feathers for an undeveloped feather, 

 the "pinfeather." Study its connection with the body. Has 

 the feather emerged? What do the walls seem to be com- 

 posed of? Cut across the pinfeather. What do you find 



