The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1885-04-10
FACTS ABOUT FEATHERS.
PLUMEs THAT COST MORE THAN
THEIR WEIGHT IN GOLD.
Birds o. the Tropics How the Orni-
biological world Pays Tribute so
the Mighty wilmer.

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-
| migan, 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
soft, velvety appearance and their taking
dyes readily, are in much request; 80 are
those of the flamingo, 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 $40 the ounce, accord
ing to the 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
I graceful barbules, has caused them to
be priced in all ages They are the dear
est and most sought after in consequence
Of their tneness and elasticity, being en-
! ployed for court .pumes and head dress
es as well as the nodding plumes on
| the hearse. Their value is enhanced be-
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 deicacy and elegance of
the barbules Of the North African fea tn
ers. The Aleppo feather used to be con-
sidered the type of perfection of ostrich
feathers, but they are now so scarce as
seldom to be be met with in commerce.
For the bows or tail feathers of the os-
trich there is an enormous demand, and
| llS luOIC VI llllS hluNi arc SOlOl Illdu
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 a series of years-taking into
account quality and demand-rangcs
from $40 to $500 the pound weight, but
their first cost is of course much lower
Nulture 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 ad-
joining republics 1t is smaller than the
true African ostrich, is without tail and
the feathers are not of the same rich and
costly kind. The Patagonians and In
dams 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
tiiicial flowers They are chiefly made
at Madeira and in Brazil; the latter are
the best and bring higher price.
20 ol
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,
rolled in paper, is sold for cooking.
Many persons buy geese with the
condition attached of returning the
skin to the vender. The difficulty OF
separating the skin from the flesh pre-
vents many countries from preserving it.
From the prepared downy skin a great
quantity of ladies' powder putfs 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 nantes and
dresses; but they are getting 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 flappers or fan
ming brushes are made of them in India.
Permission to wear the peacock feather
in the hat in China is like the European
orders, only granted by special permits
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 paradise, distinguished for theiI
splendor and elegance, are used for orna
menting turbans in the East, as well as
for hats and head dresses by European
and American ladies. The genus Para
disea is chiefly restricted to New Guinea
and the small islands in its vicinity.
The most elepant in its Olumape is the