At the root of the first quill in each wing of the woodcock, is a small pointed narrow feather, very elastic, and much sought after by painters, by whom it is used as a pencil. A feather of a similar kind is found in the whole of this tribe, and also in every one of the tringas and plovers which the author has examined.—_Bewick._ FEATHER, _v._ To dress in feathers; to fit with feathers; to tread as a cock; to strike feathers from a bird fired at. FEBRIFUGE, s. Any medicine serviceable in fever. _Vide_ FEVER. FEED, _v._ To supply with food; to graze; to consume by cattle; to take food; to prey. FEED, _s._ Food, that which is eaten; a certain portion of corn given to a horse. FEEDER, _s._ One that gives food; one that eats; a kennel servant. FEELER, _s._ One that feels; the horns or antennæ of insects. FEET, _s._ The plural of foot. _Feet of Birds._—Technical terms:— _Pinnatus._—Finfooted or scalloped, a term applied to the feet of coots. _Pes lobatus._—Applied when the toes are furnished with broad plain membranes, as in the foot of the red-necked grebe. _Semi-palmatus_—Semi-palmated: when the middle of the webs reach only about half the length of the toes. When the middle toe claw is notched like a saw, it is called _serrated_; and _pectinated_ when toothed like a comb. * * * * * The large crooked talons of birds of prey, and their hooked beaks, are well formed for securing and tearing their victims. The formation of the feet of the woodpeckers, the toes being placed two forward and two backward, is well calculated for climbing, and the cuneiform shape of the extremity of their bills is suited to the purpose of cutting holes in decayed trees; their tongue is also wonderfully contrived to search out insects beyond the reach of their bill, by its great length, which is double that of the tongue at least. The wryneck has this singularity, as well as the like formation of toes; which last is also found in the cuckoo: but neither of these birds is seen to climb up the bodies of trees, nor have either the stiff sharp-pointed feathers in the tail, as in the woodpecker, so admirably adapted to support them when in the act of hewing. This agrees with the observations of an ingenious living naturalist, the Rev. Revett Shepherd. “The cuckoo,” says he, “is furnished with two toes before and two behind, and yet is never known actually to climb, a convincing proof that such conformation does not necessarily bring with it the power of climbing, more especially when we consider that the nuthatch (_Sitta Europæa_), and the creeper (_Certhia familiaris_), have their toes placed in the usual manner, and yet run up and down trees with as much facility as the woodpeckers. The use of the _pedes scansorii_, as they evidently in this case conduce not to climbing, I judge to be this; it is well known that this bird will oftentimes sit by the half-hour together on the bough of a tree,