Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-03-22
PROTECTING THE BIRDS.
Natural History society Protests Against
Their Destruction.

Their Destruction.
The Natural History Society of Della
ware held special and well attended
meeting Monday night in the interest of
the protection of birds. Vice President
Walter ID. Bush presided. John Il.
Pennypaoker offered the following reso-
lutIon and 1t was unanimously adopted,
on his motion, seconded by Elwood
NGarrett:
Whereas, This community has been
surprised and shocked to learn that
large offers of money have been made
and contracts entered into by dealers
of New York City for the purchase and
delivery from the lower section of this
State Of the skins of an immense num-
ber of wild birds Of species known to
be of great benefit to the farmer,
gardener and fruit grower: and
Whereas, The fulfilment of a con-
tract OF such nature means not only the
destruction of the specified number of
the particular species contracted for,
but the killing, wounding, alarming,
dispensing and driving away, of large
numbers Of others, greatly to the detri-
ment Of the agricultural interest of our
| State, to the gross violation of all feel
ings of humanity and the disgust and
| adherence of all tight minded people; !;
ard,
Whereas, The fact IS patent, that
the incentive to engage in this cruel,
Eioody and barbarous traffic, arises
| from the gain to be realized fiom sup
plying the demands of prevailing
fashion ; and,
Whereas, So long as this demand
continues to exist, efforts will undoubt-
edly be made TO supply it from some
souie CO; therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Society of Nat
ural History of Delaware expresses its
utmost abhorrence of the proposed
slaughter of many thousands of the
most useful, beautiful and pleasing
4 among the lower orders OF the animal
kingdom, and that It's members will CO.
operate, individually and collectively
/ with all efforts that may be made to
4 suppress or prohibit the fulfilment ol
the aforesaid contract, and any and al
other attempts that may be made tc
4 injure or destroy our native birds.
Resolved, That laws more stringent
and protective than those now in force
are required for ths preservation of the
Avifauna of this State. that such laws
should be passed by the next Legisla
ture and that we will use every effort
to that end.
Resolved, That we do hereby earn
estly appeal to the women of Delaware
to refrain from purchasing or using fol
purposes of taste or ornament all arti
Giles that can only be supplied by de
stroying the lives of our wild birds
and to exert their influence to induce
others of their sex to follow their ex
ample, and thereby aid in ..oolishinl
and destroying this most perniciou
and repulsiye traffic.
Addresses were made by President A
d. Poole of the Delaware Game Pro
teotive Association. and j. 7. Penny
packer. Mr.. Poole said he ha'
authentic information that the bir'
contract was reality.
, As result of the meeting 102 name
, were placed on the,membership roll fo
!, the organization Of Delaware Audi
bon Society. The list will be sent t
Mrs. William S. Hilles, who has agree
to undertake the organization of tn
I society.
1t is thought that the Society for tn
| Prevention of Cruelty to Animals ma
{ have power to prosecute persons VIII
Kill birds for millinery purposes, on tn
( ground that it would be cruelty to ami
, mails. 1t is held that anyone may swea
{ out warrant for the arrest of gunner
0 acting under the contract, and that
[ fine of S25 for killing bird may
( imposed by justices of the peace.