THE FEATHERS. 
81 
feather, ceases with the life of the bird; for if we 
were to throw a dead duck into the water, we should 
soon find that its coat had lost all power of resisting 
water, and become a spongy mass of moisture. But 
besides this, some birds, certain Eagles, Hawks, 
Owls, and Herons, for instance, are furnished with a 
very fine dust or powder, which is supposed to be 
of use in preserving their plumage, though in what 
way is not at present exactly known. 
The growth of feathers, in young birds, in hot 
and favourable weather is very remarkable. It has 
been ascertained, by attending to nestlings, that in 
eight days after their appearing from the egg in a 
helpless naked state, they have acquired a full coat- 
ing of feathers, and are able to make some use of 
their wings. 
That feathers are essential to a bird, in its wild and 
natural state, there can be no doubt ; but they are not, 
it would seem, in all cases absolutely necessary, for 
a featherless naked Canary-bird was once actually 
reared, and continued living in good health for up- 
wards of three years. In this case, the featherless 
state of the bird was accidental ; but the fact of a 
bird's being able to exist without this, its natural 
clothing, is proved by a most cruel and barbarous 
custom, which cannot be too strongly reprobated, 
practised in some parts of England, where extensive 
flocks of Geese are bred and reared mainly for the 
value of their feathers. The season of sheep-shearing 
does not return more regularly than that of Geese- 
plucking. It is chiefly performed by women; and 
of course the torture of the poor bird is greater in 
proportion to the want of skilfulness in the operator, 
VOL. i. g 
