Feather in your bonnet

[Singlemalt]

I understand that these are the tail feathers of black grouse, which are the less common cousins of the the more often harvested red grouse in Scotland. They look similar to the spruce grouse I was familiar with growing up in central Ontario. Pretty much all of the grouse family circumpolar are delicious to eat and are often sought out by people who "set out with dog and gu@" however we are not allowed to discuss such things here.

I hope, it is allowable that I can observe that it would be perfectly natural for rural people, who lived close to the land, who had harvested the bird for the meat to look at the magnificent tail feathers and seek for an opportunity to make use of them as well. It would serve two puposes it would be a signify that the wearer was a successful provider for his family and also a nod of respect to the bird who gave it's life to provide.

It is certainly something that would come naturally to this h@nter and gatherer.