The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-05-30
MAKING FEATHERS GROW ON
JAPANS LONG-TAILED FOWLS

That the long-tailed fowl was early N
Japan IS credible from the legend, EVIL
IDENTIFY OF abysmal antiquity, Of ANA
Terasu. the sun Goddess, who, having
retired into a cavern, TO the intense
discomfort Of the world. was nearly en-
uced out again by the Growing OF n
long-tailed cock-tO remind her. no
doubt. that II was her usual hour to ap-
pear. Another somewhat ghosuy evi-
dence of The antiquity Of the breed has
been cited in the hoo bird. which was
pictured in Japan as early as the eighth
century. This fabulous bird. writes Pro-
lessor BashfOrd Dean in the Century
Magazine, resembled both pheasant and
peacock. but u has clearly the tail, and
very luNuriant one, of the fowls OF Tosa.
In which every feather. as the poetiCaI
Japanese remarks. resembles a leaf
blade OF the mystical bamboo.
1t is known that in many kinds of
birds certain feathers continue 20 grow
until they are lost by Noting, and in all
birds II happens occasionally that a
feather may be mOlted at an irregular
time. Accordingly. Il follows that II
fowls can be secured which are irregu-
lar IN their period of melting, let US
say. the tail feathers. these will con-
tinue to grow longer. for the reason
that they have had longer time in
which TO grow. From this beginning II
is now possible. 10 infer that by a
process Of carefully selecting and breed
ing from those fowls in which the molt-
ing season Is suppressed In certain parts
of the body IL would be possible 70 OBJ
tain a variety in which the tail feath-
ers would pe much longer than IN other
fowls
A second but very important part OF
the process consists in feeding the bird
to the maximum degree. in order to
stimulate the growth Of the feathers. At
the same time. the bird should not be
allowed to disipate its energy by leading
an active life, or 10 run unnecessary
chances Of breaking the constantly
growing feathers. Thus / learned from
the fanciers at Tosa that il is custom
airy 10 cOnfine tho birds in relatively
small cages and TO feed them often and
with peculiar food. Details Of the latter
was unable to secure. although certain
hints were given me as 10 the Tirtucs Of
boiled unhusked rice, Of an occasional
scrap Of eel and Of diakOn (giant radish)
leaf. l fancy though, that any kind OF
poultry food may be used. But In this
regard one is cautious In drawing hard
and-fast conclusion. because IL is known
that feathers are subject 20 modification
in various ways dependent upon food.
Thus the cOlOrS of the feathers Of Ger
changed by the South Sea Islanders.
who feed the birds upon the fat OF
peculiar FISH. And canary birds are
given reddish color Under special con-
ditinns. as by the fanCiers in the Hartz
mountains.
II many c SOS. IN order 70 avoid accl-
dent 20 the long feathers. each fanCier
finds IT, I am told. convenient 10 coil up
the longest feathers and wrap and tie
them carefully in soft PAPER. SO that the
bird runs minimum chance Of break
ing them High perches are emphatical-
ly advocated. 1 have been told. not on
the best evidence. however. that IN some
cases the bird is confined in a tight cage
so that II Is not possible for il TO shift
its position. In this cramped way. with
the tail hanging down behind. n bird is
said 10 be kept penncd UP miserably for
periods OF months Certain IL Is that
under favorable conditions the growth
of the tail feathers can be forced. by
the fsncier. Under ordinary conditions
a cock whose tail measures five or six
feet viii rarely grow longer feathers.
For by active life. IL is probable that
a gradual moulting Of those long feath-
ers takes place On the other hand.
moulting is more apt to be suppressed by
the unwholesome living Of a bird during
the process OF overlooking. II. accord
ingly. a cock whose tail feathers are of
the normal maximum length is taken in
training by 6 skilled fancier he can. I
am told. stimulate a growth in these
feathers at the rate of about six inches
per month