194 THE IMPORTANCE OF BIED LIFE 



pletion of the molt, but before the feathers had 

 time to become frayed by usage. The barrel of 

 the shaft was softened in a sand-bath at a tempera- 

 ture of 130° to 180° F. and immediately scraped 

 clean under pressure. The outer skin was then 

 easily removed, the inner shriveled up, and the 

 shaft was freed of all greasy material. While it 

 was still hot and soft, names, trade-marks, or 

 ornamentations could be stamped upon it. This 

 process is still used. 



In the manufacture of feather dusters the wing- 

 and tail-feathers of turkeys and other domestic 

 fowls are utilized. A superior quality of duster 

 has been developed from the feathers of the 

 American ostrich. 



Again, feathers are used in the manufacture of 

 Chinese and French feather flowers, artificial 

 butterflies, various toys, darts, camel-hair brush- 

 holders, toothpicks, and fishing flies. While in- 

 dividually these minor industries are unimpor- 

 tant, collectively they represent an added inter- 

 est to the commercial world of a great many mil- 

 lion dollars. 



And when we consider as one the plumage deal- 

 ers, the ostrich farmers all over the world, the 

 eider-down hunters of Iceland and elsewhere, the 

 plume manufacturers, the upholsterers, and the 

 people employed in the minor feather industries, 

 we have no inconsiderable list. It is not difficult 



