FEATHER, in physiology, a general name for the covering of birds ; it being common to all the animals of this class to have their whole body, or at least the greatest part of it, covered with feathers or plumage.
There are two sorts of feathers found on birds, viz. the strong and hard kind, called quills, found in the wings and tail ; and the other plumage, or soft feathers, serving for the defence and ornament of the whole body. All birds, so far as yet known, moult the feathers of their whole body yearly.
The feathers of birds make a conside rable article of commerce, particularly those of the ostrich, heron, swan, pea cock, goose, and other poultry, for plumes, ornaments of the head, filling of beds, and writing pens. There are scarcely any birds but what bed-feathers may be procured from, particularly those of the domestic kind ; yet swans, geese, and ducks, are those that furnish most, and the best. Geese are plucked three times a year, towards the end of May, about Midsummer, and at the latter end of August ; but chiefly when the feathers are ripe, that is, when they are perceived to fall off of themselves. The feathers
of dead birds are in the least esteem, upon account of the blood imbibed by the quill, which putrefying, communicates an offensive smell to the feather, and takes some time to evaporate ; for which reason live birds should not be stripped till their feathers are ripe. They are imported in this country from Poland and Germany. They are divided in white, half grey, and grey, and valued accordingly. The best feathers should be white, downy, void of large stems, fresh, and sweet. Care should be taken that no sand be intermixed, which is frequently practised to increase the weight. Ostrish feathers are dyed and dressed by the feather-dressers, to serve as ornaments. They are a very costly article, brought to us from Africa, and particularly the coast of Barbary.
See DOWN.