FEATHERS.
Rishat, . . . . ARAB. Plume, • IT.
Pluimen,. . . . Bulu, . . . . • MALAY.
Plumes, FR. Plumas, SP. Federn, . . . . GER. Rakaigal, . . . TAM. Par, HIND. Rekkalu, . . . TEL.
In Asia, feathers are never used for stuffing beds or pillows, but, as in Etirope, they are largely used for personal ornament, those of the ostrich, the Indian roller, the green kingfisher, and the egret being most frequently employed. Those of the ostrich are imported from Africa, and the west of Europe is chiefly supplied from the northern margin of the Great Desert of Arabia. Those plucked from the living animal, or recently killed birds, are more beautiful and more durable than if taken from the animal some time after death, or than cast or dropped feathers. The plumage of the male bird is very superior to that of the female, the fine drooping plumes on the back and near the tail being of the purest white, while those of the female are never free from a tinge of grey near the tip. Commercolly, in Bengal, is celebrated for its egrets' feathers for head-dresses, tippets, boas, and muffs, and some of them are exceedingly beautiful, and not inferior in quality to those imported into Great Britain from Africa. The down of the young adjutant bird also is made into ladies' boas and victorines. The under tail coverts are collected and sold in considerable quantity. Many are procured at Trichoor in Malabar. In the Panjab the narrow black wing feathers of the onkar are used to make the kalgi, or plumes for the khod or helmet These plumes have a very elegant appearance ; they stand about 6 or 8 inches above the helmet. The feathers of the bustard are shnilarly used. In Madras, dealers
in birds' feathers carry on their trade on an ex tensive scale. One dealer had nearly 100 sets of hunters, each composed of 4 or 5 shikaris and 1 cook ; most of these people are Korawa (basket makers) who live in and about Madras. Each set has its headman, who is responsible for the others: These sets are sent out once a year, each receiv. mg from 20 to 100 rupees, together with a certain number of nets, a knife, etc. They traverse all India, collecting the feathers of kingfishers, and return. after six or eight months to Madras, each set bnnging from 1000 to 6000 feathers, which are taken by the dealer at Rs. 14 per 100, and shipped to Burma , Penang, Singapore, and Malacca, bringing 10 to 13 dollars the 100. Feathers form a considerable export from India. In the four years 1857-8 to 1860-1, to the value of £27,570 were exported, about one-third of which went to Britain, France, and China. Wings of a king fisher are imported into Burma from India through Arakau. In 1875-1880 the feathers exported from India were :— Year. Lbs. 1 Value,Rs. Year. Lbs Value,Rs.
1875-76, 119,7931 3,51,177 1878-79, 55,000 2,19,330 1876-77, 67,4661 2,55,466 1879-80, 41,279 1,86,187 1877-78, 67,223 2,69,359 The blue feathers of the jay, the kingfisher, and other blue-feathered birds, are largely used in China for ornamentation, pasted on silver gilt. The long scapular feathers of the Indian snake bird, Plotus melanogaster, Ginclin, is looked on by the Khassya race as a badge of royalty.-31. E. .T. R.; Dr. Taylor in Ex., 1851.