feathers

A shuttlecock ( often abbreviated to shuttle ; also called a birdie ) is a high-drag projectile, with an open conical shape: the cone is formed from sixteen overlapping feathers embedded into a rounded cork base.

The main advantage of a spinning netshot is that the opponent will be unwilling to address the shuttlecock until it has stopped tumbling, since hitting the feathers will result in an unpredictable stroke.

The plumage can vary in Britain from almost pure white to black, but is usually shades of brown, with a pale ' necklace ' of feathers.

The long wingtip feathers which trail to the ground.

When a man distinguished himself by deeds of valour, or any form of meritorious conduct, he was often decorated by a chief by being presented with the feathers of this bird.

After a battle, the chief would organise a ceremony called ukundzabela – a ceremony for the heroes, at which feathers would be presented.

Men so honoured – they wore the feathers sticking out of their hair – were known as men of ugaba ( trouble )-the implication being that if trouble arose, these men would reinstate peace and order.

He adds, " I could never see any part, except the back, which appeared to be covered with feathers of a dusky grey colour.

In addition to the production of nutmeg and mace, Banda maintained significant entrepot trade ; goods that moved through Banda included cloves from Ternate and Tidore in the north, bird of paradise feathers from the Aru Islands and western New Guinea, massoi bark for traditional medicines, and slaves.

Exports from the Funan Empire were largely forest products and precious metals — including accessories such as gold elephants, ivory, rhinoceros horn, kingfisher feathers, wild spices like cardamom, lacquer hides and aromatic wood.

The coelurosaur dinosaurs found there represent types of the group Maniraptora, which is transitional between dinosaurs and birds, and are notable for the presence of hair-like feathers.

* Cul de canard, duck feathers used in fly fishing

Aelian gives an account of fly fishing, using lures of red wool and feathers, of lacquerwork, serpent worship — Essentially the Various History is a Classical " magazine " in the original senses of that word.

He tied feathers together, from smallest to largest so as to form an increasing surface.

He secured the feathers at their midpoints with string and at their bases with wax, and gave the whole a gentle curvature like the wings of a bird.

When both were prepared for flight, Daedalus warned Icarus not to fly too high, because the heat of the sun would melt the wax, nor too low, because the sea foam would soak the feathers.

The blazing sun softened the wax which held the feathers together and they came off.

It has been depicted with brownish-grey plumage, yellow feet, a tuft of tail feathers, a grey, naked head, and a black, yellow, and green beak.

Ancient cultures around the Mediterranean knew that certain objects, such as rods of amber, could be rubbed with cat's fur to attract light objects like feathers.

Some fossils consist only of skeletal remains or teeth ; other fossils contain traces of skin, feathers or even soft tissues.

One of the grandest showpieces of the time was roast swan or peacock sewn back into its skin with feathers intact, the feet and beak being gilded.

Since both birds are stringy, and taste unpleasant, the skin and feathers could be kept and filled with the cooked, minced and seasoned flesh of tastier birds, like goose or chicken.

Freyja is the owner of the necklace Brísingamen, rides a chariot pulled by two cats, owns the boar Hildisvíni, possesses a cloak of falcon feathers, and, by her husband Óðr, is the mother of two daughters, Hnoss and Gersemi.

The poem Þrymskviða features Loki borrowing Freyja's cloak of feathers and Thor dressing up as Freyja to fool the lusty jötunn Þrymr.

Thor asks Freyja if she will lend him her cloak of feathers, so that he may try to find his hammer.