Feather

[A. S. fedher; Ger. feder; Icel. feodur; allied to Lat. penna, equiv. to petna, and Gr. pteron, from petesthai.] A plume of a bird. - The general name of the covering of birds. - Kind; nature; species; as, "birds of a feather," i. e., of the same kind or species.An ornament; a vain or empty title. - A sort of natural frizzling of the hair on the neck or forehead of a horse, rising above the surrounding hair, and resembling the tip of an ear of corn. - A small piece of iron used in splitting stone. (Physiol. and Com.) Feathers are a peculiar modification of the tegumentary system forming the external covering or plumage of birds. Though chemically similar to, and homogeneous with, the hair of mammals, their anatomical structure is in some respects different They consist of the quill , the shaft , and the vanes , (Fig 996.) The quill, a , is a hollow, semi-transparent, horny cylinder, by which the feather is attached to the skin, and terminates below in an obtuse extremity, presenting an orifice, e, termed the lower umbilicus. A second orifice, leading into the interior of the quill, and termed the second umbilicus, f , is situated at the opposite end, where the two vanes meet and unite. It combines strength with lightne in a very extraordinary manner. The cavity of the quill contains a series of conical capsules united together by a central pedicle, forming the membranous remains of the original formation-pulp. The shaft , bb, is quadrilateral, with a smooth convex surface; it contains a white, dry, and very light pith. The vanes, cc, are subdivided into two parts, -the barbs and the barbules . The sides of the shaft are covered with the barbs, and each barb forms of itself a small shaft, which is covered in a similar manner with little barbs on each edge. These barbules are so firmly bound to each other, that, although in reality separate, they seem to adhere. The feathers of birds are changed at periodical intervals. This is called "moulting." Feathers vary in their size, form, and function, and in most cases are accompanied by an acce ory plume, which is usually in the form of a small downy tuft. In high northern latitudes, the inhabitants wear the skins of some birds, with the feathers on, as clothing. In Green land, clothes made with the skins of eider IMG:content-0134.png:[graphic] ducks are worn with the feath Fig. 996. FEATHER. ers inside. The ancient Mexi ( Eccl .) Almost every religion, true or false, has had its solemn feast-days. The ancient Greeks and Romans had them, as well as the Jews and modern Christians. God appointed several festivals among the ancient Jews, the first and most ancient of which was the Sabbath, or seventh day of the week, commemorative of the creation. The Pa over was instituted in memory of their deliverance out of Egypt, and of the favor of God in sparing their first-born, when those of the Egyptians were slain. The feast of Pentecost was celebrated on the 50th day after the Pa over, in memory of the law being given to Moses on Mount Sinai. The feast of Tents, or Tabernacles, was instituted in memory of their fathers having dwelt in tents for forty years in the wilderne , and all Israel were obliged to attend the temple and dwell eight days under tents. These were their principal feasts; but they had numerous others; as the feast of Trumpets, the feast of Expiation or Atonement, the feast of the Dedication of the Temple, the Moons, . In the Christian Church, no festival appears clearly to have been instituted by Jesus Christ or his apostles, yet Christians have always celebrated the memory of his resurrection, and numerous others were introduced at an early period. At first, they were only appointed to commemorate the more prominent events in the life and death of our Redeemer, and the labors and virtues of the apostles and evangelists; but martyrs came soon after to be introduced, and by the 4th century their number had increased to a very extravagant extent. And not only so, but instead of being spent in devotional exercises, they were employed in the indulgence of sinful pa ions, and in criminal pursuits; indeed, many of the festivals were instituted on a pagan model, and perverted to similar purposes. Feasts are either movable or immovable. Immovable feasts are such as are celebrated constantly on the same day of the year, the principal of which being Christmas day, Circumcision, Epiphany, Candle mas or Purification, Lady-day or the Annunciation, All-Saints, All-Souls; besides the days of the several apostles, as St. Thomas, St. Paul. Movable feasts are such as are not confined to the same day of the year. Of these, the principal is Easter, which gives law to all the rest, all of them following and keeping their proper distances from it; as Palm-Sunday, Good Friday, Ash-Wednesday, Sex age sima, Ascension-day, Pentecost, and Trinity Sunday. Besides these, which are general, there are others which are local or occasional, enjoined by the magistrate, or voltry, the Anniversary of American Independence celeuntarily set on foot by the people, such as, in this coun--To brated annually on the 4th of July, and Thanksgiving day , also held every year on a day set apart by the Pres ident for the occasion. To entertain sumptuously, or magnificently; as, to feast with great show of favor." To delight; to pamper; to gratify luxuriously. cans made pictures with the colored plumes of humming-birds, after the manner of mosaic. Feathers form a considerable article of commerce. The feathers of the ostrich have been held in high estimation from the times of antiquity, and have been used as ornaments for the fans and head-dre es of ladies, the helmets of warriors, and for gay proce ions. The finest feathers used for beds are those of the eider-duck, which is chiefly obtained in Green land, Iceland, and Norway. Very fine feathers, especially for quills, are obtained from Hudson's Bay. - Down , or the first covering of young birds, is also an article of commerce. The dow of the swan is brought from Dantzic. A feather in one's cap , an honor or credit; a mark of distinction. To show the white feather, to display cowardice. To be in high feather , to be in exuberant spirits. To cut a feather , ( Naut .) to cause a wake behind a ve el in motion; to cause the water to foam by the quick, vibratory action of oars. v. a. To dre , fit, or deck with feathers; to cover with foliage in a feathery manner; to furnish with a feather or feathers; as, to feather an arrow, to feather a bonnet, -To tread, as a cock. "He feather'd her a hundred times a day." - Dryden. enrich to deck; to embellish; to adorn; as, he is feathered like a peacock. To feather one's nest, to provide for one's self, by abstracting a portion of money, property, ., belonging to another when pa ing through one's hands, and self appropriating the same; to accumulate wealth, whether by fair or unfair means; - this expre ion takes rise from the practice of birds in col lesting here and there IMG:content-0135.png:[blocks in formation]