The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1885-01-01
FEATHERS AND BIRD SKINS.

Where the Ostrich, Osprey, Parrot, and
Other Feathers of the Trade Come
From.
The monthly sale of feathers and bird
skins took place at the London Com
mercial Sale Room, Mincing Lane.
To this great center flock buyers of
every nationality, for it is the mart
of the whole civilized world, and an
examination of the stock here exhib-
tied for sale gives comprehensive
idea of what the millinery of the on
coming season is likely to be in the
particular of feathers. Seeing that
876 cases of ostrich feathers and 147,-
386 birds were disposed of during two
of the days of sale, it may reasonably
be predicted that for the present at
least feathers will continue to be worn
In profusion.
The ostrich feathers, which came al
most exclusively from South Africa,
arrived in their natural state, simply
divided into bundles according to
color, length and quality, those from
the male bird being either a pure white
or black, or mixture of both, while
those of the female are of uniform
drab hue, though in different shades.
The pecularity of color applies to the
''boos, or short taiI-feathers, and also
to the body feathers, the quality of
a feather being determined by the size,
the firmness of the quill, and the length
and richness of the fbres.
There is a very marked difference be-
tween the feathers of the birds reared
in farms at the Cape and those of the
wild ostrich found in the deserts of
Egypt; the latter are not so uniformly
handsome, the general characteristic
being the length and strength of the
quill rather than richness and delicacY
of fiber. Nevertheless, among the two
cargoes brought by the Nepaul and
Paramatta there were some magnificent
specimens of the wild variety, prodigi-
ously long and thick, being cast by the
bird when grown to their full size, in
stead of being cut at regular intervals,
like those reared for commercial pur-
poses.
Osprey-feathers, which are now 50
largely used in making aigrettes, were
conspicuous, but not over-plentiful.
Those delicate feather-sprays are GER
tain extraneous growth from the wing
of the Bala buzzard Ga species of sea-
falcon or eagle). In the natural state
they are of light yellowish brown or
snowy white, but are to be procured
made up in every shade under the SUM-
The silky-pointed neck-feathers of the
heron, and the soft white plumage that
comes from beneath the wings of the
African marabou and the Indian adiu-
tant crane, were in great request, as
forming an indispensable article of
feminine adornment, but the quantities
shown were by no means considerable.
If we may Judge by the numerous
bales of small feathers, principally from
the body of the peacock, the rage for
feather trimmings is scarcely yet on the
wane. All the cases containing these
small, fluffy feathers, or ''n1ixed plum
age as they are styled, are destined
for the gay capital, and will doubtless
reappear in the London market short
ly in a new guise as Nouveautes de
Paris, having been dressed and made
up in the latest mode that fashion die
tates.
To specify minutely the number of
birds which are imported from Cal
cutta each month in seemingly inhausti-
bic quantities would simply be to cata-
logue the denizens of an Indian Jungle.
1t is somewhat perpleXing, however, to
conjecture what will be done with A.
831 green parrots, even supposing them
distributed over two continents; but
probably many viii be dyed a less vivid
lN,y1, -.
greatest ambition to be true to nature,
and an art that admits of blue roses
and dog-daisies win readily receive
parrots of unknown hues.
1t may also be remembered that a
large quantity are now introduced into
fans, hand-screens, etc. It appears
that in spite of the decline of @stheti-
cism there is still a large mar
ket for peacocks' feathers, since
on Thursday last seventy-five cases
were absorbed in various quar-
ters. A large portion of these cases
consisted of the complete skin of the
bird, but there We're also many hum
dred bundles of tai1-feathers, divided
into three varieties-eyes, swords, and
fish tails, the last having the appear
ance of an ordinary feather with the
eye cut out, while the swords are those
brilliant metallic green feathers which
border the tail at each side. There was
no lack also of the brilliant blue neck
skins, while many eases were filled with
wings and body feathers. Other large
birds in prodigious quantities were the
impeyan and argus pheasants, which
could be reckoned by tens of thousands
the former a handsome bird, some
what larger than an ordinary pheasant,
of dark, metallic plumage; the latter,
as its name betokens, being covered
with white spots or eyes. A small patch
of intense red on the breast of the argus
pheasant is used solely for the purpose
of making flies for salmon-fishing, there
being no other feather that can be sub
stituted for this purpose. OF, Jungle
cocks, which closely resemble our own
''brisk chanticleer, there were
goodly quantity, while the various
specimens of wood pigeons, doves,
quails, partridges, hawks and starlings
were sufficiently numerous. OF the tiny
humming- bird, considerably over SO, 600
have been disposed of in all their gilt
tering variety of ruby, emerald and