I Need a Link & or Explanation.........

[Wil]

Let me keep this short and to the point so that I might get the best answers.
The feather in your bonnet. Why 1 eagle feather?

[McMurdo]

Below from Wikipedia

Eagle feathers
Main article: Scottish crest badge

Elements of the chief's arms are often found in the crest badge worn, usually on a bonnet, by members of Scottish clans. These crest badges contain, in most cases, the chief's heraldic crest, and heraldic motto (or sometimes the chief's secondary motto or slogan). Clan chiefs are entitled to wear three eagle feathers behind their crest badge. Clan Chieftains are entitled to two eagle feathers. A clan member is not entitled to any feathers unless he or she has been granted arms by the Lord Lyon King of Arms, in which case they are an armiger and can wear a crest badge containing elements from their own arms.


Full page here
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scottis...Eagle_feathers

[OC Richard]

The pipers of the 79th Highlanders have each worn a single Eagle Feather in their bonnet since the 18th century, and they still do so today (well, now, they're part of The Royal Regiment of Scotland).

So there is very long tradition for it outside the clan protocol mentioned above.

Here are the 79th in 1852 and sort of hidden in the centre is a piper with his eagle feather clearly visible



and in recent times, the dearly departed Pipe Major Alastair Gillies of The Queens Own Highlanders (most preserving the uniform of the pipers of the 79th Highlanders)



PS quite a bit of the regimental history is revealed in the various tartans he's wearing.