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A quill pen
Pen

File:03-BICcristal2008-03-26.jpgA pen is a writing instrument used to apply ink to a surface, usually paper. There are several different types, including ballpoint pen, rollerball pen, fountain pen, felt-tip....
 is a writing implement
Writing implement

A writing implement or writing instrument is an object used to produce writing. Most of these items can be also used for other functions such as painting, drawing and technical drawing, but writing instruments generally have the unique requirement to create a smooth, controllable line....
 made from a flight feather
Flight feather

Flight feathers are the long, stiff, asymmetrically shaped, but symmetrically paired feathers on the wings or tail of a bird; those on the wings are called remiges while those on the tail are called rectrices ....
 (preferably a primary wing-feather) of a large bird
Bird

Birds are wing, Bipedalismal, endothermic , vertebrate animals that lay egg . There are around 10,000 living species, making them the most numerous tetrapod vertebrates....
. Quills were used for writing
Writing

Writing is the representation of language in a textual Media through the use of a set of signs or symbols . It is distinguished from illustration, such as cave drawing and painting, and the recording of language via a non-textual medium such as Magnetic tape sound recording....
 with ink
Ink

An ink is a liquid containing various pigments and/or dyes used for coloring a surface to produce an , writing, or design. Ink is used for drawing and/or writing with a pen, brush or quill....
 before the invention of the dip pen
Dip pen

A dip pen or Nib pen usually consists of a metal Nib with capillary action like those of fountain pen nibs, mounted on a handle or holder, often made of wood....
, metal-nib
Nib (pen)

A nib is the part of a quill, dip pen or fountain pen which comes in to contact with the writing surface in order to deposit ink. There are different types of nib designed for different purposes that vary in terms of the material they are made from, their purpose, shape and size....
bed pens, the fountain pen
Fountain pen

A fountain pen is a pen that contains a reservoir of water-based liquid Fountain pen inks. If it uses ink cartridges instead of having a built-in ink reservoir, it is often called cartridge pen....
, and, eventually, the ballpoint pen
Ballpoint pen

A ballpoint pen , is a modern writing instrument. A ballpoint pen has an internal chamber filled with a viscosity ink that is dispensed at the tip during use by the rolling action of a small metal sphere of brass, steel or tungsten carbide....
. The hand-cut goose quill is still used as a calligraphy
Western calligraphy

Western Calligraphy is the art of writing. A contemporary definition of calligraphic practice is "the art of giving form to signs in an expressive, harmonious and skillful manner"....
 tool as it provides a sharp stroke, and more flexibility than does a steel pen. The shaft of the feather acts as an ink reservoir and ink flows to the tip via capillary action
Capillary action

Capillary action, capillarity, capillary motion, or wicking refers to two phenomena:# The movement of liquids in thin tubes...
.

The strongest quills come from the primary flight feathers taken from living birds in the spring.






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A quill pen
Pen

File:03-BICcristal2008-03-26.jpgA pen is a writing instrument used to apply ink to a surface, usually paper. There are several different types, including ballpoint pen, rollerball pen, fountain pen, felt-tip....
 is a writing implement
Writing implement

A writing implement or writing instrument is an object used to produce writing. Most of these items can be also used for other functions such as painting, drawing and technical drawing, but writing instruments generally have the unique requirement to create a smooth, controllable line....
 made from a flight feather
Flight feather

Flight feathers are the long, stiff, asymmetrically shaped, but symmetrically paired feathers on the wings or tail of a bird; those on the wings are called remiges while those on the tail are called rectrices ....
 (preferably a primary wing-feather) of a large bird
Bird

Birds are wing, Bipedalismal, endothermic , vertebrate animals that lay egg . There are around 10,000 living species, making them the most numerous tetrapod vertebrates....
. Quills were used for writing
Writing

Writing is the representation of language in a textual Media through the use of a set of signs or symbols . It is distinguished from illustration, such as cave drawing and painting, and the recording of language via a non-textual medium such as Magnetic tape sound recording....
 with ink
Ink

An ink is a liquid containing various pigments and/or dyes used for coloring a surface to produce an , writing, or design. Ink is used for drawing and/or writing with a pen, brush or quill....
 before the invention of the dip pen
Dip pen

A dip pen or Nib pen usually consists of a metal Nib with capillary action like those of fountain pen nibs, mounted on a handle or holder, often made of wood....
, metal-nib
Nib (pen)

A nib is the part of a quill, dip pen or fountain pen which comes in to contact with the writing surface in order to deposit ink. There are different types of nib designed for different purposes that vary in terms of the material they are made from, their purpose, shape and size....
bed pens, the fountain pen
Fountain pen

A fountain pen is a pen that contains a reservoir of water-based liquid Fountain pen inks. If it uses ink cartridges instead of having a built-in ink reservoir, it is often called cartridge pen....
, and, eventually, the ballpoint pen
Ballpoint pen

A ballpoint pen , is a modern writing instrument. A ballpoint pen has an internal chamber filled with a viscosity ink that is dispensed at the tip during use by the rolling action of a small metal sphere of brass, steel or tungsten carbide....
. The hand-cut goose quill is still used as a calligraphy
Western calligraphy

Western Calligraphy is the art of writing. A contemporary definition of calligraphic practice is "the art of giving form to signs in an expressive, harmonious and skillful manner"....
 tool as it provides a sharp stroke, and more flexibility than does a steel pen. The shaft of the feather acts as an ink reservoir and ink flows to the tip via capillary action
Capillary action

Capillary action, capillarity, capillary motion, or wicking refers to two phenomena:# The movement of liquids in thin tubes...
.

The strongest quills come from the primary flight feathers taken from living birds in the spring. The left wing is favored by the right-handed
Right-handed

Someone who is right-handed will prefer to use this hand for everyday activities, such as Penmanship, maintaining Hygiene, cooking and so forth....
 majority of writers because the feathers curve out to the right, away from the hand holding the pen. Goose
Goose

Goose is the English-language name for a considerable number of birds, belonging to the family Anatidae. This family also includes swans, most of which are larger than geese, and ducks, which are smaller....
 feathers are most commonly used; scarcer, more expensive swan
Swan

Swans are birds of the family Anatidae, which also includes goose and ducks. Swans are grouped with the closely related geese in the subfamily Anserinae where they form the tribe Cygnini....
 feathers are considered premium. Depending on availability and strength of the feather, as well as quality/characteristic of the line wanted by the writer, other feathers used for quill-pen making include feathers from the crow, eagle
Eagle

Eagles are large bird of prey which are members of the bird family Accipitridae, and belong to several Genus which are not necessarily closely related to each other....
, owl
Owl

The Strigiformes are an order of bird of prey, comprising 200 species. Most are solitary, and Nocturnal animal, with some exceptions . Owls mostly hunt small mammals, insects, and other birds, though a few species specialize in hunting fish....
, hawk
Hawk

The term hawk can be used in several ways:* In strict usage in Europe and Asia, to mean any of the species in the subfamily Accipitrinae, which comprises the genus Accipiter, Micronisus, Melierax, Urotriorchis and Megatriorchis....
, and turkey
Turkey

Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country that stretches across the Anatolian peninsula in southwest Asia and Thrace in the Balkans region of Southern Europe....
. Often the barbs
Barb (feather)

Barbs are a series of branches fused to the rachis of a feather. The barbs themselves also have branches called barbules, which have hooks that lock the barbs together....
 are stripped off partially or completely to allow the writer to grip the shaft
Calamus

Calamus may mean:*Calamus , a figure in Greek mythology who turned into a reed out of grief for his young male lover Karpos, who drownedBotany and zoology...
 more securely.

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