feathers

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feathers

A Dictionary of Biology | 2004 | Â© A Dictionary of Biology 2004, originally published by Oxford University Press 2004. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

feathers The body covering of birds, formed as outgrowths of the epidermis and composed of the protein keratin. Feathers provide heat insulation, they give the body its streamlined shape, and those of the wings and tail are important in flight. Basically a feather consists of a quill, which is embedded in the skin attached to a feather follicle and is continuous with the shaft (rachis) of the feather, which carries the barbs. This basic structure is modified depending on the type of feather (see contour feathers; down feathers; filoplumes).

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feather

World Encyclopedia | 2005 | Â© World Encyclopedia 2005, originally published by Oxford University Press 2005. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

feather One of the skin appendages that makes up the plumage of birds. They are composed of the fibrous protein keratin, and provide insulation and enable flight. They are usually replaced at least once a year.

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Free newspaper and magazine articles

	Corvidae feather pulp and West Nile virus detection.(Dispatches) Magazine article from: Emerging Infectious Diseases; 5/1/2004
	RECYCLING POULTRY FEATHERS: MORE BANG FOR THE CLUCK. Magazine article from: Environmental Health Perspectives; 8/1/2000
	Detecting avian influenza virus (H5N1) in domestic duck feathers.(LETTERS)(Report) Magazine article from: Emerging Infectious Diseases; 10/1/2008

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Related articles from newspapers, magazines, and more

	Feathers Magazine article from: Click; 3/1/2006; ; 700+ words ; ...feathers overlap so rain runs off and birds stay dry. Fixing Feathers As birds flap and fly, air tears their feathers. When wind batters feathers, birds repair them. Each feather has a hollow quill in the center, and barbs that spread out...
	FEATHER BRAINED! Forget It-bags and Louboutin shoes. One of the first fashion crazes ever was (wait for it) ostrich feathers. The quest to find them made men millionaires -- only to destroy them.(News) Newspaper article from: The Daily Mail (London, England); 5/7/2009; 700+ words ; ...with ribbons and feathers. The ostrich feather was especially...so, when the feathers arrived in London...caused a sensation. Feather auctions were held...houses, known as 'feather mansions'. In South Africa, feathers were ranked fourth...
	FEATHER TREES\ FIRST POPULAR IN THE VICTORIAN ERA, FEATHER TREES HAVE MADE A COMEBACK.(News) Newspaper article from: The Kentucky Post (Covington, KY); 11/26/2005; ; 700+ words ; ...The Post Greg Hoh and Melinda Rahe make feather trees at their shop in Covington. Both...interested in vintage ornaments. Goose feathers dyed green will be used in a Christmas...pliers and goose feathers are used to make feather trees.
	FEATHERS IN BIG DEMAND EAGLE PLUMAGE A HOT ITEM WITH BOTH LEGAL AND ILLEGAL BUYERS.(News) Newspaper article from: Rocky Mountain News (Denver, CO); 8/4/2005; ; 700+ words ; ...honored with eagle feathers for acts of bravery, and eagle feather fans are used in...driving the demand for feathers skyward. The Casino...Wiist inspects a feather by slowly spinning...I can match wing feathers from a couple of...
	Feather fossil challenges origin of birds Newspaper article from: Charleston Gazette; 6/25/2000; ; 700+ words ; ...back of the small fossil as feathers and began a long study of the...critter. Jones said that the feathers along the back of Longisquama...Archeopteryx." Geist said the feather structure of Longisquama was...probably had muscle control of the feathers and that it used them to glide...
	Feather confiscation has family fuming Newspaper article from: Deseret News (Salt Lake City); 12/26/2004; ; 700+ words ; ...family is crying foul after their prayer feathers were taken from their car by a Ute Tribe Fish and Game officer. The confiscated feathers come from an eagle and are used for religious...owner. Because it's illegal to possess feathers from the protected bird, the conflict...
	FEATHER CHRISTMAS; Six months ago, the best selling novelist Jilly Cooper told Mail on Sunday readers how she adopted Feather, an abandoned greyhound. Now, in her witty and affectionate diary, she explains how she planned the perfect Christmas for this mischievous and loving orphan. Newspaper article from: The Mail on Sunday (London, England); 12/24/2006; 700+ words ; ...County Offaly, where he'd been called Feather because of his gentleness and the white...quiet little man with a soul'. In June, Feather came to live with me, my husband Leo...my diary that followed . . . July 16: Feather is still shy of strangers but blossoms...
	FEATHER BRAINED! Forget It-bags and Louboutin shoes. The greatest fashion craze Britain's ever known was (wait for it) ostrich feathers. The quest to find them made men millionaires -- only to destroy them.(News) Newspaper article from: The Daily Mail (London, England); 4/16/2009; 700+ words ; ...with ribbons and feathers. The ostrich feather was especially...so, when the feathers arrived in London...caused a sensation. Feather auctions were held...houses, known as 'feather mansions'. In South Africa, feathers were ranked fourth...
	Feather meal profiles studied: a study was conducted to provide comprehensive documentation of nutrient profiles for the majority of feather meal products currently produced. It was found that feather meal composition is fairly consistent, but blood inclusion influences nutrient profile substantially.(meat and bone meal feeds) Magazine article from: Feedstuffs; 5/8/2006; ; 700+ words ; FEATHER meal has been underutilized as a protein...exists regarding the nutrient content of feather meal products. A review of the U. S...revealed little compositional information for feather meal beyond crude protein (CP), moisture...
	Feather visor.(CraftCorner) Magazine article from: Whispering Wind; 1/1/2007; ; 700+ words ; ...tail shape. Feather visors are made...designs using tail feathers of various birds...and one center feather, and the lengths...different. The feathers shown here are...the outside feathers were 12 inches and the center feather ended up being...