Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1885-04-06

o.
gs ss' for decorating it. First the
hs..ssnt plume was introduced g an or
pct s~, for hats; then followed the ptar-
nansa' neacock, trogon, impeyan and
plgaD' ,beasants. ibis, heron, sea gull,
sgu. rcock and owl, and now almost
ol.ss variety of plumage may be seen III
ssai .,s If ladies and children. Ac-
ms i a. TO scarcity and fashion, some
soIs Il feathers occasionally command
I'm i.hnlous price. Thus certain sorts for
". have reached $40 to $50 the pound
~ :.bt Pelican feathers, from their
". v velvety appearance and their taking
sl- readily. are in much request; so are
~. n the famingo, and what are
I'm in commerce as long and short
10 80 which included the much priced
@ ~, peoret These feathers range ii
ice from 81 to $40 the ounce, accord
~ the whiteness of color. A new
~ very pretty ornamental application
= hird skins is that of the entire head
"A uIunage of some SNOWY bird for
=. and fire. screens; and the brilliant
r.,o heads of the humming bird family
s."dsomely mounted on necksets, ear PEN
J,ats brooches, etc., form a novel spec
IL, Of bird jewelry.
The elegance of the feathers Of the Os-
,drb arising from the slender stems and
.,,cefnl barbules, has caused them to
Y nrized in all ages. They are the dear
= and most sought after in consequence
.ftheir fineness and elasticity, being en-
Moved for court plumes and head-drcss-
q as well as the nodding plumes on
M bearse. Their value is enhanced be.
cause thew can always be changed, dyed
,nd remade into larger and richer plumes
n ustience and assiduity in the attach
mept Ostrich feathers in commerce
n classed in the following order as re-
card value: First, those coming from
Narsdore; second, those from Egypt
and Barbary, and third, the South Afri-
un feathers. These are long, and there
fore esteemed for many purposes, but
have not the delicacy and elegance of
he barbules of the North African feath-
rs The Aleppo feather used to be con-
ddered 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-
tich 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 taking into
weOant quality and demand-ranges
from s45 to $3.50 the pound weight, but
their first cost is of course much lower.
Vulture plumes, as they are called In
lnde ore employed in large quantities
u this country. and form the most i'm
poFtant branch of the commerce in
Gathers They are obtained from the
american ostrich, which inhabits chiefly
he pampas and vast plains Of Patagonia,
he Argentine confederation and the ad-
oiniag republics. It Is smaller than the
ue African ostrich, is without a tail and
as feathers are not Of the same rich and
oaly kind. The Patagonians and In
ans make plumes, parasols and many
autiiul ornaments Of them. The trade
cocks feathers is very important n
enmeFce they are classed into several
ladS the saddle and hacklc feathers
ng especially in demand. Large
.s.'s' Of pure color. bring two 20 six
''an the pound. They nre used for
aieA military plnmes and feather
ECthfN rnafhn~ 1~se.~. -. ...ss -
~ priced now, owing 70 the great
'e'{ and eheapness Of the common ar
howcrs. They are chiefly made
Aadeifa and in Brazil: the latter are
oai and bring q higher price.
ooess feathers for ornaments arc OBJ
49, nom oil countries. They form IN
country a considerable article Of
-lsiee; the best are used for head
- aud the bad quality for plumes.
lance q large quantity Of goose skins
,spaFed for winter garments. They
aae entire skin from the bird. leav-
merely the raw carcass, which,
~ y paper, is sold for cooking.
persons buy geese with the
oa attached Of returning the
The yender. The difficulty of
saang the skin from the flesh pre-
many countries from preserving It.
~ sne prepared downy skin great
10y OF ladies' powder pulls are also
~ g article with which France sup
~ world, Swan skins are en-.
~ aof much the same IS goose skins.
10y lot trimmings for mantles and
oat they are getting more scarce,
san only be obtained during the
satlon of birds.
seeks feathers are obtained in
- '. sne collectorates Of the Madras
~ss' me gorgeous plnmage being
49, year. Fly fiappeFs 0r fan
sues are made Of them ia India.
90 to wear khn s.ae,.s nl-,e feat4,ar