1 
ments are being conducted as to the best remedies for treating the opened 
and injured sockets, so as to assist their healing after the operation and, if 
possible, insure that the new growth shall begin well. 
SUMMARY. 
1. The best time of the year at which to quill ostriches involves con- 
siderations as to the age of the bird, its nutritive state, and the climatic 
conditions. 
2. The first quilling must be carried out when the chicks are about 
eight months old, otherwise irregularities will be introduced by the uneven 
growth of the new second crop, some feathers of which can not be kept 
back by allowing the quills to remain in their follicle. 
3. The Buchan of a quill at once stimulates the growth of a new 
feather, quite irrespective of any natural order of appearance of the 
feather, and thus evenness of growth can be secured by simultaneous 
quilling. 
4. The second quilling may take place at about sixteen months, at 
which time the quills are ripe; but under certain conditions the opera- 
tion can be delayed for several months longer. 
5. The quills of the second and later quillings may be left for many 
months within the socket, even after they are ripe, provided the birds are 
not in a high nutritive condition; otherwise some feathers of the new crop 
will appear and thus introduce irregularities. 
6. Eight month and twelve month systems of quilling are very largely 
practised according to climatic conditions, though both systems admit of 
considerable variations. 
7. The continuous practice of the eight month system in time results 
in a deterioration of the feather produced, whereas this does not follow 
from the yearly system. 
8. The nutritive condition of the bird at the time of quilling has a 
great influence upon the quality of the next crop of feathers, and, where 
possible, birds should be quilled only when in a highly nourished state. 
9. The natural time for quilling seems to be during the last months of 
the year, so as to bring the plumes to ripeness about the beginning of the 
mating season. 
10. The quilling of the tail and covert feathers (black or drabs) 
should take place about two months in advance of that of the wings, so 
that the new growth may serve as a protection to the latter and also in- 
duce a rich supply of blood to the wing as a whole. 
11. The advantages of simultaneous quilling are that all the com- 
mercial feathers are at the same stage of growth, and hence facilitate farm- 
ing methods; also the yicld is heavier and the feathers are more likely to 
be of better shape and freer from barring and other defects. 
