The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-10-09
Eeatilers of u Bird,

VI feather's lightncss we may form
some idea when we find that the largest
Quill OF golden eagle weighs only sixty
flve grains, and that seven such ouils do
not weigh more than copper penny piece :;
that the feathers of a common fowl, which
weighs thirty-scven ounces, weigh only
thrct ounces ; and that the entire plumape
OF an owl weighs only one ounce and a
half. Meant as they are, some for cover
ing and some for strength, we shall find
them, on examination, very differently put
together. The light downy part, when
| examined through a microscope, will lie
| found to bear little resemblance to the flat
part or blade of the quill. If it were not
80, bird would scarcely be able to hy at
all; for when the flat of the wing was
pressed down, the air would pass through
II, and yield no resistance. The fibres of
the downy part, we see, have little con-
nection with each other; they have short
ana loose side shoots, just sufficient to mat
them together when pressed close to the
skin whereas, the side shoots of the quill
feather hook and grapplc with one an-
other, SO as to make one firm and united
surface. But others there arc, much
stronger and stlffcr than the wing quill
feathers; as those, for instance, forming
the tails OF the wood-peckcr tribe. And
the reason would be evident to any person
who watched woodpcckcr on the stem of
tree feeding. Its food consists of grubs.
usually concealed in the wood. In order to
get them, he must therefore remain fixed
on the bark, and make hole with his heal,
tedious, if not impracticablc operation
were it not for the wiry stiffness of the tail
feathers, VIII ch press against a tree and
act like an additional limb. The TAIL how
ever, has another use, applicable more or
less to all birds it is to them what q r,1d-
der is to boat, and in many cases acts
ike third wing. If we look at O hawk
hoVerlng In the air, when he remains i'm
one spot we shall see that the tail is spread
out like a ian, and it is in constant state
or qulverlng motion, balancing the bird,
While the wings are keeping it afloat. 1t
ls clear that If water could soak into the
SOFT fcathery covering of bird, every
shower OF rain would be the death of thou
sands, lnasmuch as it would increase their
weight considerably, and, at the same time,
ny destroying the fine elastic nature of
their feathers, entirely disable them from
lying, and they must remain in a HELPLESS
state upon the ground, either to perish
from hunger, or become the prey to men
or animals, who would catch them with.
out trouble. But against such a possibility
they are guarded by an abundant oily CO.
vering, which is constantly renewed; so
that the rain, instead of sinking in, runs
OIL, without remaining all instant; and we
all know that if we take up q duck, or any
swimming bird, we shall find, though it
might have been diving just before, that il
is perfectly dry and free from all damp.
But tins principle of life, if it may be so
called, III feather ceases with the life OF
bird for if VIC were to throw dead
duck into the water, we should find that
it's coat had lost all power of resisting wa
ter, and becomes a spongy mass of moist.
ure. The growth of feathers in young
birds in hot and favorable weather is vcry
remarkable. 1t has been ascertamed by nf-
tending to nestlings, that in eight days
after their appearing from the egg in
helpless, naked state, they have acquired
tho first part of their feathers.