The San Francisco call., 1905-05-14
SYSTEMATICALLY RAISING
sEGRETS FOR PLUyIAGE
Plan TO Supply Aigrette PIumes
Without killing the Bird That
Bears Them.

without Killing the Bird That
Bears Them.
The beautiful aigrettes known to mil
liners as osprey" plumes DO not come
OF the bird properly known as the os-
prey. This is a large brown and white
fishing hawk. prosecuted, indeed, to the
death by the collector Of British spec
linens" but not in the cause of fashion.
since 1t has no remarkable plumage to
excite cupidity.
The plumes sold under this name are
the trousseau OF several species OF
white herons-a wedding garment worn
by both bride and bridegroom. and they
were originally called by the French
name esprit" Mispronunciation and
the knowledge that there is a bird
called osprey have given US the present
title. OF course the objection to their
use Is the fact that the birds are killed
In the breeding season, the young be-
Ing left TO starve; but by keeping the
birds in captivity all this could be
avoided. as they could be, caught and
shorn much easier than sheep.
There are several species OF egrets.
as these white plume-bearing herons
are called, but one seemssmore suitable
than any Of the others for artificial
culture. This is the biggest OF aII-the
large egret (Herodias alba), a bird
found practically all over the world.
for, although some ornithologists di-
vide 1t into two or three species, the
differences are not Of any practical inn
portance- 1t is about as tall as our
common heron. but even more long and
slender in shape, and its breeding pIu-
mage Is in the form OF one thick bunch
of very long plumes growing from its
back.
This species. being able to live In
both hot and temperate climates, would
thrive either here or in our colonies.
and, being Of size to protect itself
against any ordinary vermin, has OBJ
vious advantages as a domestic bird.
1t is, moreover. very long lived.
Young birds should be procured to
start with. as old ones would probably
bear captivity with a very bad grace.
like the common heron, which is apt to
refuse food when captured adult. -Four
may be found in a nest. and they
might be expected to bear marketable
plumes in the year after capture.
4uc DeSl way 10 keep Inem would be
to clip the long quills OF one wing and
turn them out IN an inclosure sur
rounded by six-foot fence Of the
coarsest netting. until they get tame,
when they could be allowed to wander
about any available fields, care being
taken at first that they did not stray.
They would do no harm 20 any sort OF
crop, as they are purely animal feed
ers; in fact. they would be of use in
destroying vermin, as. like our own
heron, they do not confine themselves
to fish, The vicinity OF a stream would.
Of course. be desirable, but in the alb
sence Of such accommodation a large,
shallow tub kept full Of clean water
would be sufficient for them to bathe
In.
Once they were got to breed. some
selection could be attempted in order to
produce birds with the most abundant
plumes. the most accommodating ap-
petites and the best tempers and con-
stitutions; in fact. the species could
be thoroughly domesticated, and, OF
course, there would be a profit in SELL
ing birds for stock--London Express.