Feather These barbules have minute hooks called barbicels for cross-attachment. Down feathers are fluffy because they lack barbicels, so the barbules float free of each other, allowing the down to trap air and provide excellent thermal insulation. At the base of the feather, the rachis expands to form the hollow tubular "calamus" (or quill) which inserts into a follicle in the skin. The basal part of the calamus is without vanes. This part is embedded within the skin follicle and has an opening at the base (proximal umbilicus) and a small opening on the side (distal umbilicus). Hatchling birds of some
The Barbs The Barbs The Barbs was a band from Medway, Kent with a non-English member Amy who is from outback NSW Australia. With indie rock and punk-pop influences, the band were never particularly successful in their home country, but in the Philippines in late 2004, they had a hit with the single "Massive Crush". The UK release of the same record was Single of the Week on Lauren Laverne's XFM show, and was surprisingly played on BBC Radio 2 several times. The single received critical acclaim, with 4 Ks from "Kerrang!" and was, according to the "NME", "The best song about