The sun., 1907-08-12
PROTECTING AFRICAN BIRDS.

The French have decided TO take steps 70
preserve and increase the birds whose
plumase has long been q great source OF
comrhsrce In the region Of the upper Niger.
a little south OF tho desert OF Sahara. Tins
part OF the western Sudan In included In the
French province of the upper Senegal and
Niger. II In the region that for many gem
erations sent by camel across the Sahara
TO the European markets the feathers OF tho
ostrich and heron.
To-day the steamboat and tho railroad
tap this region, though they do not pene-
trate II. Thsy have killed the desert car
avan trade, and ostrich feathers and heron
plumes now take the steam route 70 tho
Atlantic. But tho quantity Of these prissd
commodities sent TO the Niger for shipment
has been gradually decreasing and tho
French decided TO look into the matter.
The natives kill the animals 10 get the
feathers and IL was feared that tho birds
were being annihilsted.
The source Of most Of the supply OF
feathers In In the vast area south OF tho
great northern bend of the Niger, which up
TO this time has been ono OF the large ar,-
explored regions. II is still q big white
spsce on our maps. but IL will be 90 no
longer a. soon a. Dr. J. Dccorse prepares
his map material for publication. He was
ssnt there to study the bird question and
has traverssd the region In all directions.
1t In another instance of the spread OF geo
graphical knowledge through commercial
effort.
DR.. Decorss was sent there by the Gov
ernor of ths upper Senegal and Niger in
October. 1905 and he has only recently
enlarged from It. He found thers the
Tuaregs and other Mohammedan natives
who In days gone by would have killed any
white man At sight, though they collected
feathers 20 adorn the costumes of the women
Of tho white race. But they have bean %
cowed by the nsws of French supremacy In
all the surrounding regions that thsy Of
fersd him no harm. though he and his smsll
party wandered through their country for
about year and half.
Hs mission has achieved results Of much
eoonomio importance. He says tho natives
ape rapidly sxterminatins tho birds that
have so long yielded thsm a golden harvest.
He advi'-s radical Measures to prevent
their extinction and small French posts
posed regulations.
NO UukkCb8 Nfro VI 1ho
plurred heron he entirely intsrdicted for
two years and that 10 increase the supply
reservations be established within which the
natives shall never be permitted 20 hunt
this bird.
He found that the Wild ostrich ID still very
abundant. though its numbers have bean
greatly reduced. He advises that the Gov
eminent establish stations TO the west Of
the Niger for the domestication Of this
animal, Just as has been done on q large
scale in South Africa. Tho territories
within the Niger bend are not yet suficientiy
we'll organized for the starting of ostrich
ranches, and the region he reoommends for
the experiment is west OF the Niger, between
Faxuibine on the north and FarimakS on
the south. His plans. presented 70 the
Government in great detail are based upon
the idea that the ranches should Be very
large and that the birds should be kept in
their natural state as nearly az possible.
DR.. Decorse says that the wild ostrich in
the French possessions is sure to be exter-
minated II il continues to ba killed TO obtain
its plumage. Paris. the greatest OF ostrich
feather markets. will have to depend on for
eign sources of supply unless the bird is
domestioated in the French domain. He
asks for three years in which to give fair
trial TO the project.
The Government has decided TO supply
funds for a thorough test OF the question
whether the ostrich oan be successfully
domesticated in the French Sudan. DIR.
Deoorse will have charge OF the work. Tho
feather trade of Paris, and especially tbs
Syndicat des Plumassiers, is following the
enterprise with the greatest interest.