FEATHERS ON THE BODY. 



89 



corresponding side, either of the wings or of the tail, 

 is of that colour. 



The upper parts to which names are given, are the 

 setting of the neck, which is often marked by differ- 

 ently coloured feathers, or produced ones which form 

 a mantle on the shoulders ; the scapulars, or feathered 

 parts over thie blade bones, the middle of the back, 

 and the rump or part of the back next the tail, which 

 is often differently coloured from the rest. Upon all 

 these, the feathers, excepting those birds which have 

 supplemental ones, are smooth and close, and so beau- 

 tifully imbricated, or placed over each other like 

 tiles, that they form a very close and smooth surface, 

 which is perfectly water-proof in some birds, and 

 not very easily wetted in any. 



Arrangement of clothing feathers. 



The manner in which these and all the other cloth- 

 ing feathers are applied to each other, and also 

 adapted to the shape of the bird, is well worthy of 

 study. Generally speaking, they are placed alter- 

 nately, or one over two, that is, with its shaft in the 

 opening between them ; but they cannot be said to 

 form regular rows taken in any direction, and they 

 vary considerably both in shape and in size. 



