The leader., 1900-04-25
PLEA FOR THE BIRDS.
Frank M. Chapman Asks Protection
for the Brown Pelican.
opinions from the Bird or Free
dom Are Rudders for
women's Hats"
fFrom the New York Tribune. }


The feathers of the brown pelican are no"
worn so commonly-hundreds may bc seen In
New York daily-that every one knowing Of the
ease with which the bird may be killed ana
Its comparatively restricted range must fee'
that ct the present rate Of destruction lts
early extinction, at least IN the United States
Is assured" says Frank II. Chaman, ed4tor
of Bird Lore.
"Eron Texas reports come to US of the
slaughter of brown pelicans in large numbers,
and we have also heard rumors that tney
are being killed for their feathers IN f4oriuA.
could be made to realize how infinitely more
valuable to them live pelican Is imam
dead one. l do not for moment o9uot 'na l
It's destroyers would speedily receive tnelF
'.Thls apparently ungainly. but in reality
eiugulariy gra ceful, bird is the most pict-
uresque element In the life OF Florida's coasts,
where It's size and familiarity render Al con-
spicuous to the least observing. 10 tle our 81
Ii is as much object Of interest as me
slllgatorS or cabbage palms. II IS ulSt4nctiy
strange and foreign. and us presence Iends Is
in FLORIDA Its loss would, therefore, be irrepar-
able and ! appeal TO every lover OF FLORIDA
TO aid in its protection.
TWO CLASSES OF AUDUBoNIrES.
"Audubonltes may be divided into two class
regards their attitude towaEd Inc VIZ We II
ing OF feathers-the moderates and the TOTAL
abstainers," says Mr.. Chapman. ,-.- =.
The moderates hold that they violate noae
sense by wearing the plumes OF game OF ioo a.
birds or those OF the ostrich, which 10 as
legltimately raised for its feathers as snee2
for It's wool. In short, they see the necessity
of keeping feather wearing within conserVs awe
bounds and elect TO take the INDIVIDUAL re-
':.Tbs total abstainers say: Let US break our
selves altogether Of the feather wearing haoll
We shall be more conspicuouslJ consistent a, as
bird protectionlsts, and we shall not De CARED
upon TO settle fine points and follow dlfIcu!t
boundaries. We need not know anything ABOUT
plumage, and never have 70 aea any tbos. a
food birds OF the pinions Of song birds aus
suised with dye. On II the fearfuliy nanufsc-
and parrots twisted out Of all sernblance to ma
ture, or merely compounds OF chicken fearner'
beth Of these attitudes are equally useful
TO the cause II they are msintained consist
emily, but Inevitably the way OF the tota! ao,
sbstsiners need not. to quote Hamlet. know
a hfvk from q haudsaw.' While. in order TO
be consistent the nSdeTstss must ths Dc wo ofa
that divides the feathers that may be from
Audubonits. but by any woman who has either
sense or sensibility. A pathway A slack wire
is the better simile. so treacherous Is the
..WSst Is It that causes the downfall of
many Of the moderates, who know the common
birds feirly WELL and could not be hoodwinked
into buying ssi'' Dlune' or dyed '"'ll'"
You can guess easily, for you have seen the
to-dsts outing hat the entire season, and unless
you are unusually lucky 1t has P9ked you 70
IL in LIE e'e Is quiz Of
yes, the quill is 4 mischief -maker. At its
Introduction many years ago the Quill was at
goose quill sedate enough to make q pen for
Judge. After while II TOOK on daos OF color
and .ss UaS: Sus rainy ay
denly longer :n Wiz CURL to r. Zip hat made
er hsd lived with it. This quill, however, did
not stay well in curl. and less than year
ago q was displaced ~ the reis1inS fss0 sa;
that decks the cap Of the operate Mephisto,
but not half so becoming to the wearer.
stes. They wear these quilts bliDdly, because
they have not studied birds thoroughly enough
ae esst M ssded color I'm SENTENCE IT Is
/ have cornsred several women who are what
" Do you know that the Dotched quill In
your hat rs . piRion of the American eagler
Oh no; you must be mistMsn; y sqsssy
and 6esides'-- drawing herself up with supe-
rior wlsdon-'eagles are very rare birds, that
and know at least nifty people who are
wearing these quilts.
Yes "a 81 ssa h .s syrI Su
eye q fashion, Pause a moment, Wen mean,
ing sisters of little knowledge hold a quin
class and lay your outing hats on the dissect-
ing table, Study out the things you have been
wearing. and you will be wiser, and ] hope
sadder also, resolving either TO toin the total
abstainers or 70 devote enough time to bird
study TO be consistent in your actions.
4" But you may say, we are consistent
sven now. The eagle Is neither 4 song bird, an
insect eater, nor q game bird. and from an
ecOnomic standpoint I can only b considered
a. q bird OF prey and o. eater OF wastass.
Yes. this Is all true, and yet. In the higher
take rank with the practical. And what bird
expresses wild grandeur and poetry Of mo-
ton In % great q degree as the esglef Pegasus
harneaaed to q plow or Caesar dead aud
turned to clay. stoppins a hole 70 keep TIE
wind away would not Dc . greater misuse
bird Of freedom to act as rDdder 10 vomen's