EXPERIMENTS WITH OSTRICHES—IX. 
THE TERMINOLOGY OF OSTRICH FEATHERS. 
By Prof. J. E. Duzrpren, M.Sc., A.R.C\S., Rhodes University College, 
Grahamstown. 
' Among ostrich farmers a large number of technical names are neces- 
sary in order to describe the various kinds of feathers, as well as to indicate 
the many parts and “ points”’ of the feather. Many of the names are em- 
ployed somewhat loosely, and their meaning often varies in different dis- 
tricts; also there are many parts of the feather requiring description for 
whieh no technical names are known to the farmer. Further, as very 
little literature has yet been devoted to the ostrich as a recently domesti- 
cated animal, few of the terms used have ever been defined in such a 
manner that one can be certain of their exact meaning. The following 
is an attempt to give a_ scientific glossary or terminology of ostrich 
feathers, so that if accepted the names with their meanings will be fixed 
for further usage and prevent confusion. It is largely a combination of 
scientific terms, and those employed by the farmer, and while some of 
the former may not be necessary for ordinary purposes, they are yet intro- 
duced as helpful for those who may wish to go more deeply into ostrich 
matters. It is not presumed that a first attempt of this nature will be 
complete or accurate in all respects, and the writer will be pleased to hear 
from anyone to whom the terms suggest a different interpretation from 
that here given. 
KiInps oF FEATHERS ON AN OSTRICH. 
1.—Contour Feathers.—These are the feathers which occur over the 
body and wings, and overlap one another so as to cover and protect the 
skin, and assist in maintaining the high temperature of the bird (103° F.). 
They determine the general shape or contour of the bird, hence their name, 
and include practically all the feathers of the ostrich, seeing there are no 
down feathers such as are found in most other birds. The feathers cover- 
ing the body generally are known by farmers as body-feathers, and are too 
small to be used commercially. 
2.—Feather-Tracts or Pterylae.—Feathers do not occur all over the 
body of the ostrich, but ure limited to definite areas which are separated 
by naked or featherless spaces. The former are the feather-tracts or 
pterylae, the latter the featherless-tracts or apteria. A large naked space 
or apterium occurs over she lower part of each side of the body, and ex- 
tends over the under aurface behind. Practically the entire leg in the 
adult bird is also featherless, but in the chick the outer surface of the 
leg above the ankle, and as far as the knee, is usually covered with 
