The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-02-14
BIRDS FOR FASHIONABLE WOMEN.
New York and New Jersey Furnish Most of
the Tropical Species.
New York Star.


New York star.
The fashion of utilizing stuffed birds in the
makeup of ladies' toilets has lately been ex-
tended beyond thing ever before experienced
Birds are not only seen on bonnets and hats
but have made their appearance on dresses at
evening receptions and balls At the charity
ball last week at the Metropolitan Opera house
a lady appeared in low.cut full evening dress
Upon the small strips that passed over the
shoulders white doves were perched. Another
lady wore in her hair a large pin. at the knob of
which two humming birds were perched, and
they futtered up and down and cut lively capers
when the lady danced
where do all the birds that the ladies wear
nowadays come from" was asked of taxiderm-
ist of the West Side.
"Mcst of the birds used in the trade by milf
ners come from New Jersey. but good many
also come from Long Island and some are re-
ceived from the West and South. But few
are imported"
the winged Inhabitants of tropical zone come
from2"
"That involves trick of the trade. Nearly
all these birds come from New Jersey and the
State of New York. Let me illustrate it. A
blackbird is taken, the bill cut off, and in its
place a snipe's bill inserted. and by combining
parts of the skins of other common pros mon
strosity is produced. But if the coors are we'll
matched, the result is attractive to the eye how
ever much it may surprise one who knows all
about the appearance of birds. If you glance at
the hats exhibited in the windows of the fashion
able stores, you will find sometimes half dozen
birds heads projecting from one mass of feath-
ers that might be the breast of swan or tur-
key Many of the wings that adorn hats bear
no possible resemblance to wings. The whole
business is matter Of taste. In mounting a
bird for hat certain portions of the skin are
cut away, but by no means thrown away. All
the offal is used up for wings by gluing the
pieces on model"
How are the birds caught-are they shot?n
"Oh, no. no shot is found in faying the birds
that are bought Of regular customers. The
hunters keep their mode Of catching the birds
secret, because they are afraid of the interfer-
ence of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty
to Animals We have man who brings us over
1000 birds week during the warm months. He
lives in New Jersey, and has partner but no
other help: One would think the woods would
be depopulated, get the supply is kept up from
year to year. The man ought to DE rich enough
to retire from business"
How much do you pay for the birdsW
1.-THE prices vary according to the demand, and
the demand is controlled to large extent by the
prevailing fashions Last year the miliners
called especially for redwings and yellow birds,
for which we paid from twenty-five to thirty-five
cents apiece. at the rush of the season the price
for that kind of birds ran mp to forty-fve and
fifty cents apiece for lot At other times we
could get all we wanted for from eight to twelve
cents each. It is really remarkable that the sup
ply does not give out, 10 spite of all the slaugh-
teriDg of the BIRDS
What kind of birds are brought into the mar
ket?D
"All sorts, and very often quite common
birds, orioles. red-winged blackbirds, snipes,
thrushes. yellow Birds reed BIRDS sparrows,
turtle doves and mocking birds. Almost any
small birds can be used. The wings of the spar
rows are dyed red. yellow. green, and even blue
and the little feathered inhabitant of the north
ern zone is transformed into magnificent trop-
ical bird. How long will the fashion Of wearing