ČSN EN 1885 + A1 - Peří a prachové peří - Termíny a definice

3.3.8 residual matter

quill pith, quill fragments, or any other foreign matter

!3.3.9

foreign matter

non-plumage derived material"

(informative) Qualitative identification of the elements constituting the plumage of fowl species

General

The morphological characteristics of the various types of feathers and down are at times rather similar and therefore a sufficiently accurate description is not always possible in view of a definite identification.

The qualitative analysis is carried out by visual examination as well as with microscopical analysis.

Morphological characteristics allowing to differentiate the elements

Down (3.1.13) three-dimensional clusters of barbs (3.1.20), directly forthcoming from a scantly sketched core (3.1.14). The barbs are provided with barbules (3.1.22) and nodes, whereas prongs (3.1.23), thorns (3.1.24) and clamp teeth (3.1.25) are generally missing.

At least two barbs originating from one point are conventionally considered as down.

Plumule (3.1.17) has a three-dimensional structure unlike the two-dimensional feather; it has an underdeveloped soft and flaccid quill from which originate barbs similar to down barbs, therefore they cannot be singled out.

The down barbs develop directly from the core. The tip of the plumule is open, transparent and soft unlike the tip of a feather which is compact and flat.

Nestling down (3.1.15) is a not completely developed down and differs from a down cluster (3.1.13) by its barbs being kept together by a sheath (3.1.16) and not originating from a core (3.1.14).

Down, nestling down and plumule fibre (3.1.18): single barbs separated from the core, the sheath or the quill.

Feather (3.1.3.1) has a two-dimensional structure and a shorter and more flexible vane than that of the quill feather (3.1.2) and unlike the plumule, has a rigid, well-developed quill and a compact and flat tip.

Broken feather (3.3.4): conventionally a feather is broken when more than 40 % of its quill is missing or when it is missing its vane or when it is broken but not separated into parts.

Damaged feather (3.3.7): conventionally a feather is damaged when its quill is not broken but more than 25 % of its surface is missing due to the missing of its vane or of the upper part of its quill.

Quill feather (3.1.2) has a flat two-dimensional structure and a longer vane; its barbs are more rigid than the ones of a feather. It is a coarse feather of the wings and tail of waterand landfowl.

Morphological characteristics allowing to single out the fowl species

By visual examination

Eiderdown

The visual examination is sufficient given the particular macroscopic morphological characteristics of this type of down.

Goose

— the quill shaft is stiffer and normally thicker than the duck feather's quill shaft;

— the quill shows a stronger curb (when given);

— the quill point has a more oval section and is less sharpened than the duck feather's quill point;

— the vane is well developed with tight barbs, well interconnected, unlike landfowl;

— the vane has a tendentially rectangular shape with a wide tip and fibres at the base.

Duck

— the quill shaft is less rigid and generally thinner than the goose feather quill shaft;

— the quill is less curbed, when given;

— the quill point has a more cylindrical section and is sharper than that of a goose feather;

— as for the goose feather, the vane is well developed, with tight, interconnected barbs unlike the ones of landfowl feather;

— the vane has a tendentially triangular shape with a sharpened tip;

— there are few fibres at the base.

Landfowl

— the feather may be provided with an after shaft, that is a smaller feather originating from a same quill point;

— the quill shaft is thinner than that of waterfowl;

— the vane is flat with thinner, poorly connected barbs, unlike the ones of waterfowl feathers;

— the vane has a long and narrow shape with sharpened tip.

Microscope method

Goose

The barbules, located at the base of goose show less nodes with regard to those of duck; generally the nodes can be observed in the first third of their length.

In the barbules that are located at a greater distance from the base of the barbs no nodes are normally observed like in the duck feather.

The internodes of goose barbs are double as long as those of duck feather barbs.

Unlike duck, prongs are missing.

Duck

The barbules near the base show 1 to 6 nodes, generally bigger than those of goose, except for immature down. Nodes can also be observed in the apical part of the barbule.

In the barbules located away from the base of the barbs, nodes are missing like for goose.

Internodes are always shorter by half or more compared with those of goose.

Unlike goose, the barbules more distant from the base, show prongs, with intervals more or less equal to the internodes.