New-York tribune., 1886-11-07
DANGER or Wk4R1Ng9l 9lSONo BIRDS
II Is PUNISHABLE UNDER kzRECEyT LAW
MILLINERs SAY THE LAW cASsor nE ENFoRorD
AND WOMEN WEAR RIRns a urrnnn

MILLINERs SAY THE LAW CANSOT DE ExFORcrD
AND WOMEN WEAR BIRDS As BEFORE.
People OF this state who are interested in fix.
preservation OF native song birds, and who ap-
prove the crusade against the fashionable b;rd-
hat, may be interested in knowing that the last
Legislature passed law designed TO prevent the
Wholesale slaughter Of native birds, othcr than
game birds, for millinery purposes. II might be
added that fashionable women. who are following
the fiat sent from Paris that the brdhat shall not
fall into "innocuous dcsuctude" might be- equally
interested in this law and the consoqunces of its
enforcement
lhc large number Of women in this city alone
who wear the bird-hat easily proves that the ex-
stcncc Of this law is not kn,wn. But tie law
passed last May, and il embraces "any wild
bird other than game Bird" and provinces that
no person SHAH purchase or have ia possession,
or expose for sale any such song or wild bird,
any part thereof, after the has been killed.
Any person Violating this provision OF the act
shall be Gecmed guilty OF misdemeanor, punish
able by Impeachment in the county jail or penl-
Tertiary of not less than hNc or more than
unity uays, or by a fine OF not less than $40 or
more than $50. or both at the discretion of the
court. MorcO> err onc-half OF the reco, cry shall
belong 10 the plaintiff.
1his is practically offering a reward OF from SIS
I'd S25 for each successful complaint OF a yiO-
alton of the act, ana the larsc number Of bird
aats one may any day in fashionable street
this city shows how large fortune any Samp
~.
Except In buffalo, however no attempt has been
made 10 carry the law into effect.
A TRIBUNE rc. orter calied recently on a men,
her Of the Audubon Society, who told him that
IL his lmpleoSiCn that the nillncs. taNider-
mists and wholesale houses for sthc supply Of
feathers in this city were trying TO create the
mppssOn that biruh hats we've becoming fashl0na-
Vie aSaIn.
"Ihey found their large stock rendered use
.ess last year" he explained, when the wave OF
n IL nation arose and now that II has subsidized
they are trying 10 push their stock OIL The law
IN question was passed through the efforts Of the
american Oinithooglst Union. l don't think
that all the nineis of this city are aware Of tins
law. The Audubon society was incorppratct
se en- months agO for the prUtecti' OF birds. but
We pI0pOse to resort TO moral suaslOn."
The reporter called on several fashionable nil
ncls Cnc of them sail: IF women want these
bird hats we have to furnish them. We are the
publics servants anu that Is the situation IN
nutshell"
"Iaye you heard of law against selling birds
for millinery purposes !?
Ike to see their names in the papels IL these
cOpe want 10 be really charitable why don't
they turn their attention 10 humanity IL Is
relOstcrous Jaw. IL could ne'1 be enforced, Tor
if any bac<guard should inform against lady.
he would be KICKED out of court"
Another milner said that he had heard or the
aw II am willing" said he, "to cooperate
NTH the Audubon society to protect our native
bn's. but don see how this law could be carried
out. To beLin WITH the restriction u Etil Wholly
on our native birds Here for example, Is a
beautiful red phcdsants breast ihe Dlrd WIS
eau ht Shot or trapped no one KNOWS Mnc.e.
Then too the breast is composite one maze up
If hundreds Of tiny feathers sewed or glued 10
muslin foundation.
Now SUPP ose that l put that on hat that L
send to q fashionable customer lhe lazy goes
out and a complaint is made against her She
is summoned ana the bird Is ms eeted. 1t IS, OF
course on the face of il an imported article. nut
the lady has been subjected to an annoyance ana
nothng has come out OF IT. Many Of our native
hir,s are sent 10 Paris and dyed there. and when
they come back none but an expert can tel-and
| Goubt if he could in every lnsianoe-what the
BIZ ; are To employ experts as detectives IN thls
business would be manifesty absurd
In protecting son--birds only the law Is more
sensible and likely 10 succeed. for a. general
nle birs of song have dun pumage and aTc not
so eagerly sought for for decorations. we 80
ct a largc supply of feathers, breasts AMI WINS
from the markets Why don't these people pru.
tcct XII S and obige women to- wear cotton gloves
Why don't they protect the seals by pfohloltng
the sale of soaslins But II you begin on that
line there is no. end"
Pennsylvania and Massachusetts have laws Tor
the protection OF native birds but they have ne' er
been enforced.