New-York tribune., 1886-02-28

WOUEN And BIRDS.


tion to their canaries. A more serious accuSa-
ton can now be brought against them. The
alarming decrease of American song and shore
birds has been dcplored by lovers OF nature Tor
many years. 1t has been due in part to una
voidable causes, such as the drainage OF
marshes. the conversion of woodlands into
farms, the destruction of forests and rapid
settlement of the country; but much larger
share of the determination OF Drd-llIe Is
directly attributable to feminine folly. An
interesting and valuable supplement 0l the
current number of Science discloses the magnl-
tude of the evil and suggests legislative
remedies. 1t is plain, however, that the friends
of the birds cannot hope to accomplish their
purpose by means of legislation unless they can
appeal successfully to public sentiment for
ADEQUATE support and encouragement SIN
ouIa,ly enough, they must begin by declaring
war upon modern fashions and cnlsting the
sympathles of sensible American women
Wanton and improvIdcnt rs Is the destruction
of birds for sport, food and scientific ana
amateur collections, the slaughter Is NANNY
conducted for the millinery trade.
Some of the details Ol this wholesale sacrifice
of bird-lifc on the altar of fashion are oi
startling significance. At Cape Cod 10000
terms have been killed in one season BY single
agent of the nat tradc. At Cobbs Island, on
the Virginia coast, an cntcrprl>ing business
woman ol NcW-lork has recently succeeded IN
filling contract with Parl, millinery lirr Tor
10000 bird-skinS of gull,, scd-sWallo"s aud
terms. al 10 cent, apiece. The den and iol
cgrct and heron pluncs has extended the me
of SLAUGHTER from Florida all along the Gun
coast. In Texas sport receive orders IRON
NcW-Iori ioI the piumcS OF Wmic cElc'a ID
lots of 10000. The prdrics and mountain
Wales of the far West are secured for BIRDS OF
small sizes and every variety o. plumiEc; ana
from the Pacific coast hundreds OF thousands
of brd-skins are shipped annually. Nearer
home the coast line oI Long Island, once one oi
the flyorit, haunts of birds, has been the
scene Of indIscIlmindtu bltchcrE Terms ANA
,ca-swal!ow, have wcll-nlsh disappeared from
the marshes between Concy Island ana ire
Island. which ten year, ago were their breed
inc-sround. At ScaloId, MoIchcs, 6rccnporl
and many other towns the slaughter of binds
for the millinery trade j. a lucrative mean, oi
livelihood: and the Ncw.Jcr,cy coast D.
rayaycd I'M the most mcrclic,s manner. The
land birds suffer in the same way. Robins
eold-wngcd woodpcckcr,. hummng-bud-,
thrusncs. orioles cedar waX-winS~ blue birds
and meadow larks are shot by the thousand ana
the skins and pluma-e sent 20 ihe SHOPS To DE-
used in frivolous ornItholoEital displays III
female hcaddrcss.
These facts. presented IN overwhelming array
in the supplement 10 which wc have referred
are accompanied by wcIEhty considerations
respecting the disastrous results To agriculture
of the destruction OF land and sea birds. The
Onitholosist-' Union committee ON bird protcc-
ton has prepared scheme of legislation on
this subject Tor preventing b. linc and lmPri,-
onmcnt TIN. wauton butchcry. But 1t Is
manifest that legal rcmriie, will b. of little
avail 50 long a, the enormous demand OF the
millinery trade continues; and there can be -
abatement in this rc,prCt so long a. the baibhr-
ON. fashion of wearing on the street and IN the
drawing-room the pumlgc and skins OF birds
prevails. In England the Queen has cNcrtrd
her influence in favor Of radical reform ln'
millinery. and several powerful societies have
been organized under tlc patronage Of Ladies'
of distinguished social position. The women
of Ncw-Y have an excellent opportunity oi
co-upcrating in this movement. II Is within
their power to make a vigorous protest against
q fashion of the day which is largely re-
spon,ible for the cruel and wautOn destruction
of one of the most useful and beautiful orders
Of created life. An influential society formed
under the patronage of the leader, oi the social
life of the metropolis could do more than the
State Legislature TO put On end 70 this sense
less and wicked butohcry Of binds.