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With respect to the feathers which are said by the Scythians to fill
the air, and to prevent persons from penetrating into the remoter parts
of the continent, even having any view of those regions, my opinion is
that in the countries above Scythia it always snows - less, of
course, in the summer than in the wintertime. Now snow when it falls
looks like feathers, as every one is aware who has seen it come down
close to him. These northern regions, therefore, are uninhabitable
by reason of the severity of the winter; and the Scythians, with
their neighbours, call the snow-flakes feathers because, I think,
of the likeness which they bear to them. I have now related what is
said of the most distant parts of this continent whereof any account is given.
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