The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1885-05-13
FACTS ABOUT FEATHERS.
PLUMEs THAT COST MORE THAN
THEIR WEIGHT IN GOLD.
Birds of the TrOpics-HOw the Orni-
biological world Pays Tribute 90
the Mighty NIiIIfucr.

The jaunty hat has given great i'm
petus to every novelty in the shape OF
Feathers for decorating it. First the
pheasant plume was introduced as an or
nament for hats; then followed the ptar-
migau, peacock, trogon, impeyan and
argus pheasants, ibis, heron, sea gull,
black cock and owl, and now almost
every variety of plumage may be seen in
the hats of ladies and children. Ac-
cording to scarcity and fashion, some
kinds of feathers occasionally command
fabulous price. Thus certain sorts for
hats have reached $40 to $50 the pound
weight. Pelican feathers, from their
ooft, velvety appearance and their taking
dyes readily, are in much request; so are
those of the lamingo, and what are
known in commerce as long and short
osprey, which included the much priced
short egret. These feathers range in
price from 81 to $16 the ounce, accord
Sng to tie whiteness of color. A new
and very pretty ornamental application
of bird skins is that of the entire head
and plumage of some snowy bird for
fans and fire screens; aud the brilliant
little heads of the humming bird family
handsomely mounted on'neck,ets, ear pen
dants, brooches, etc., form a novel spe-
cies of bird jewelry.
The elegance OF the feathers of the os-
trich, arising from the slender stems and
graceful barbules, has caused them to
be priced in all ages. They are the dear
est and most sought after in consequence
of their fneness and elasticity, being en-
ployed for court-plumes and head dress
es, as well as the nodding plumes on
ha - =. L
cause they can always be changed, dyed
and remade into larger and richer plumes
by patience and assiduity in the attach
ment Ostrich feathers in commerce
are classed in the following order as re-
gard value: First, those coming from
Magadore; second, those from Egypt
and Barbary, and third, the South Afri-
can feathers. These are long, and there
fore esteemed for many purposes, but
have not the delicacy and elegance of
the barbules of the North African feath-
ers. The Aleppo feather used to be con-
sidered the type of perfection of ostrich
feathers, but they are now so scarce as
seldomto be be met with in commerce
For the bows or tail feathers of the os-
trich there Is an enormous demand, and
perhaps more of this kind are sold than
any other. Northern and Southern
Africa are the quarters from whence sup
plies are obtained. There are feather
merchants in Magadore and other Bar
barry States, who are in communication
with all the districts of the desert where
the bird is found The price of ostrich
feathers in series of years-taking into
account quality and demand-ranges
from $45 to $500 the pound weight, but
their first cost is of course much lower.
Vnlture plumes, as they are called in
trade, are employed in large quantities
in this country. and form the most i'm
portant branch of the commerce in
feathers. They are obtained from the
American ostrich, which inhabits chiefly
the pampas and vast plains of Patagonia,
the Argentine confederation and the adj
joining republics. 1t is smaller than the
true African ostrich, is without a tail and
the feathers are not of the same rich and
costly kind. The Patagonians and In
dlans make plumes, parasols and many
beautiful ornaments of them. The trade
IN cocks feathers is very important. In
commerce they are classed into several
kinds, the saddle and hackle feathers
being especially in demand. Large
white, of pure color, bring two to six
dollars the pound. They are used for
parures, military plumes and feather
brushes. Feather flowers are not so
much priced now, owing to the great
beauty and cheapness of the common ar
titcial flowers. They are chiefly made
at Madeira and in Brazil; the latter are
the best and bring higher price.
Goose feathers for ornaments are OBJ
tanned from all countries. They form in
this country a considerable article of
commerce; the best are used for head
dresses and the bad quality for plumes.
In France large quantity of goose skins
are prepared for winter garments. They
, strip the entire skin from the bird leav-
ing merely. the raw carcass, which,
'u-olled in paper, is sold for cooking.
tinlany persons buy geese with the
10 addition attached of returning the
to the vender. The difficulty of
ed yarating the skin from the flesh pre-
vents many countries from preserving it.
From the prepared downy skin a great
quantity of ladies' powder puffs are also
made, an article with which France sup
plies the world. Swan skins are en-
ployed for much the same as goose skins,
especially for trimmings for mantes and
NiSeoSSi DuV 1neJ aIe geIllnS more scarce,
as they can only be obtained during the
immigration of birds.
Peacock's feathers are obtained in
many of the collectorates of the Madras
presidency, the gorgeous plumage being
shed every year. Fly fappers or fan.
ming brushes are made of them in India
Permission to wear the peReock's feather
in the hat in China is like the European
orders, only granted by special permis
sion of the sovereign. The feathers of
the gold and silver pheasants are much
used for making artificial flies for anglers
and ornamental work generally. The
birds OF para aise, distinguished for their
splendor and elegance are used for orna-
menting turbans in the East, as we'll as
for hats and head dresses by European
and American ladies. The genus Para