Figure 252.—Feather shield (British Mus., L.M.S., 579). a, wooden framework three longitudinal rods (1, 2, 3), 715 mm. long; the two lateral rods (1, 3), 7 and 9 mm. thick and middle rod, 13 mm. thick, all slightly thinner at top; middle rod has handle (4) on back, about 93 mm. long and raised 35 mm. above rod plane; five crossbars about 7 mm. thick but lowest 9 mm. thick, spaced against front of rods, and lashed to them with oronga cord. A piece of dark tapa folded to right dimensions lies on front of crossbars between outside rods and upper and lower bars, b, front: eight lengths of sennit, 10-13 mm. wide, 732 mm. long, covered on outer surface with tropic bird red tail feathers, attached by continuous spiral turns of an oronga thread from above downward, over front surface of frame; lower ends of sennit lengths hang below lowest bar and thread passes between individual lengths to keep lower ends together braid ornament (1) with coir side tufts hangs down free from the top bar. c, back nine lengths of braid similar to those in front but covered with white and with black feathers attached to framework, spiral thread fixing feathers also passing around crossbars as it reaches them; sennit lengths at each side edge are attached to lateral rods; braid length in line with the mesial handle (4) is cut off above handle and another short length is attached below it thus leaving handle clear; lower free ends are also connected by a thread passing between their ends. d, some tropic bird tail feathers. (1) lashed at a slant to separate short lengths of sennit (2) which were lashed to longitudinal lengths as extra ornaments; bunches of small red feathers were attached; to quill end of some tail feathers. e, sennit streamer technique: long free tufts of coir fiber (1) were added on either side to braid fibers (2); streamers 660 mm. long.