The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1880-10-16
The Feathers o. ! Bird.


Ola feathers lightness we may form
some idea when we Rnd that the largest
quill Of golden eagle Weighs only sixty
five grains, and that sogen such quills 90
not weigh more than copper penny piece;
that the feathers Of common fowl which
weighs thirty ounces, weigh only
three ounces and that the entire plumage
Of an owlweighs only one ounce aud half.
Meant as they are, some for covering and
some for strength, we shall find them, on
examination, very differently put together.
The light downy part, when examined
through microscope, will be found to
bear little resemblance To the flat part or
blade ofthe quill. Ifitwere not so, o bird
would scarcely be able TO fly at all for
when the fat Of the wing was pressed down,
the air would pass through Il, and yield
no resistance, The 6bres Of the downy
part, we see, have little connection with
each other they have short and loose side
shoots, just sufficient omat them together
when pressed close TO the skin whereas
the side shoots or the quilI-feathcr hook
and grapple with one another, 90 as 10 make
one firm and united surface.
But others there are, much stronger aud
sitter than the wing quill feathers; as those
for instance forming the tails Of the wood
pecker tribe. Aud the reason would b
evident to any person who watched wood
pecker on the stem Of tree feeding. III
food consists Of grubs, usually concealed
10 the wood. In order to get them, b,
must therefore remain fixed on the bark
and make a hole with his beak, tedious
if not impracticable operation, were 10 no
for the wiry stiffness Of the tail feathers
which press against a tree and act like Al
} additional limb. The tail, however, ha
another use, applicable more or less to a
) birds; it is to them what rudder Is 70
) boat, aud 10 many cases acts like a thir
: wing II We look at hawk hovering /
! the air, when be remains at one spot "
shall see that the tail is spread out like
E fan, and ii is 10 a constant state Of quiTe
4 ing motion, balancing the bird, while In
c wings are keeping It aHoat.
e Il is clear that if water could soak inl
a the soft feathery covering Of a bird, ever
b shower Of rain would be the death Of tho
!, sands, inasmuch as Il would increase the
/. weight considerably, and, at the same tim
d BY destroying the fine elastic nature
their feathers, entirely disable them fro
l. flying, and they must remain 10 helple
IN state upon the ground, either to perish fro
L hunger, or become the prey to men or a
le imals, who would catch them witho
is trouble. But against such a possibili
v they are guarded by an abundant oily CO
We ering, which is constantly renewed 50 Il
or the rain, instead Of sinking 10, runs ,
he without remaining an instant aud we
u, know that if we take up duck, or o
I'd swimming bird, we shall find, though
nd might have been diving Just before, Il
ut il is perfectly dry and free from all dar
IN. But this principle Of life, If il may be
Of called, in feather ceases with the life
Of bird for five were to throw dead dt
he into the water, we should find that its G
Of had lost all power Of resisting water, .
|, o become a spongy mass Of moisture.
md The growth Of feathers 10 young bi
ers in hot aud favorable weather is very
inc markable. Ii has been ascertained by
at tending to nestlings, that in eight q
cd, after their appearing from the egg
PES, helpless, naked state, they have acqu
.wo the first part of their feathers. Stand
the History Of B6ds.