Now look at the tail, Rap, and tell me what you can find." "Why, there is a bunch of long stiff feathers like rowers, that slide over each other when you spread the tail, and a lot of short feathers that hide the roots of the long ones.

Are they rowers and coverts too ?" "A bird does not row with his tail--he steers with it, as if it were a rudder; and the long feathers are therefore called rudder-feathers--or _rectrices_, which is Latin for rudders.

But the short ones are called coverts, like those of the wings--upper tail-coverts, and under tail-coverts." "How funny!" said Dodo, "for a bird to have to row himself and steer himself all at once.

I know I should get mixed up if I tried it with a boat.

How do feathers grow, Uncle Roy ?" "Just like your hair, little girl," said the Doctor, patting her on the head, "or your nails.