1805.] On the Feqthers and Down of Domeftic Fowls. 
take a high flight, and thofe which are 
aquatic, in order to fecure them from the 
- cold they would otherwife experience, the 
one in the upper regions of the atmo- 
fphere, and the other from the contac of 
the water. ‘This down in the latter is co- 
vered with aclofe oily plumage, which 
preferves it entirely from humidity, and 
by thefe means permits thefe birds to pre- 
ferve their natural heat. 
The down of birds of prey, being, as 
already faid, exceedingly rare, collectors 
endeavour to obtain only that of palmi- 
pedes ; a very numerous clafs of birds, 
and of which three {pecies only have been 
fubje&ted to the condition-6f domelticity, 
viz. the fwan, goofe, and duck. 
But before I {peak of the collecting of 
thefe three kinds of down, which are rea- 
dily- obtained, I fhall fay a few words in 
regard to a kind of down which is far fu- 
perior to them on account of its foftnefs, 
lightnefs, and elafticity ; it 1s the eider- 
down furnifhed by aduck called the eider- 
duck (Anas mollifima, Linn.) which in- 
habits Iceland. The following 1s the de- 
{cription given of it by Sonnini, the wor- 
thy friend of Buffon, and one of the prin. 
cipal co-operators in the Nouveau Didction- 
naive d Hiftoire Naturelle: 
«¢ The eider-duck pulls from its breaft 
and belly the down with which they are 
covered, in order to line its neft to warm 
its eggs and its young. It is fought for 
with great care in all countries where, 
thefe birds are common. It is the fofteft, 
the lighteft, warmelt, and moft elattic, of 
all the kinds of down. Norway and Ice- 
Jand furnifh this valuable fubftance, which 
is fold there at the rate of a pittole per 
ound when pureand well picked. 
*¢ The nefts of the eider-duck are, in 
the north of Eurcpe, to the inhabitants of 
the coaft, a fort of property, which, 
though free, is confiant and certain.— 
Each individual enjoys in peace the nefts 
fituated on his land, and does every thing 
in his power to draw thither thefe ducks. 
A heavy fine is impofed on thofe who kill 
any of thefe birds, One man, if his ha- 
bitation be placed on one of the rocks at 
a diftance from the land, can colle&t ina 
year from fifty to a hundred pounds of 
down. ‘The Danes purchafe all they col- 
leét. But it isa general rule, that the 
down taken from a dead eider-duck is in- 
ferior in quality to that which it plucks 
from its own body.” I have already 
made this obfervation, and fhall here add, 
that it is general for all birds. 
331 
There is, indeed, a very great difference 
between feathers plucked from a living 
animal and thofe taken from one which 
has died in confequence of difeafe. The 
latter have very. lirtle elafticity ; their 
barbs become matted when expofed to the 
leait humidity. They are attended’ alfo 
with another inconvenience, which is, 
that, though baked in an oven, they are 
attacked more readily by infets, and ina 
little time reduced to duft. 
But this difference is obferved not 
merely in- the feathers of domeftic ani- 
mals ; wool and hair are equally~{ubject 
to it. Wool fhorn from an animal which 
has died of difeafe, is not nearly fo valu- 
able as that cut from a fheepin good 
heaith. The ftate of the difeafe even 
lefiens the quality in a confiderable degree, 
All cloth made of har cut from an animal 
which has died of difeafe, is deftitute of 
ftrength. Merchants, therefore, are very 
careful to fay that their hair is the produét 
.of a living animal; and they are,’ no 
doubt, taught by daily practice to diftin- 
guthh it. ‘ 
Even ivory which is colle@ed by 
chance if countries inhabited by elephants, 
is inferior to that obtained from elephants 
which ‘are hunted ; 
of a better polith, and in every refpeét fu- 
perior. jhe eA 
Swans Down or Feathers. 
Among the wild {wans, there are fome, 
the plumage of which is entirely white, 
like that of domeftic fwans. . Others, and 
this is the cafe with the greater number, 
are rather gray than white; and this gray 
is of adarkercolour onthe head and back, 
fo that it appears almof brown. 
Domeftic fwans are {tripped of their fea~ 
thers twice a-year, in the fame manner as 
geefe. They furnifh a down much 
fought after on account of its foftnefs, 
and which is employed for ftutling pillows 
and beds. It is well known, alfo, that 
the fame fubftance, exceedingly fine, and 
fofter than filk, is ufed for powdering- 
puffs. It is formed alfo into beautiful 
muffs and fur-articles, which are both 
light and warm. ~The feathers of the 
wings are. preferable to thofe of the goofe 
fcr writing, and tor the tubes of painting- 
brufhes. . ‘ 
Ducks’ Down or Feathers. 
Though the down of common fowls: 
and pigeons is not neglested in fome difs 
triéts, the palmipedes furnifh the princi- 
pal part of that con{umed in Europe. 
Uuz Ducks? 
the latter being — 
whiter, leis brittle, finer, and fufceptible © 
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