The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1908-06-12
AFTER BIRD BUTCHERS.
Audubon Workers Plan Wide Cam
Paign to Repel Millinery Mar
auderS.

auderS.
New York, June 12.-That whole
regions of the Florida everglades
have within the last three years been
robbed of every vestige of bird life
to supply the worlds millinery mar
ket with the plumage of the heron
that formerly bred there in count
less numbers was reported here to-
day. From several ornithologists,
who have just completed a survey of
this section, reports nave been sent
to the headquarters of the National
Association of Audugon Societies de-
claring that where America was most
rich in tropical races of birds it is
totally barren today AT this rate of
devastation, it is asserted, the plume
hunters will leave this country en-
tirely stripped of all its birds of
plumage within five years.
Detailed reports of the discovery
of wonderful rookeries of the small
blue herons and of white birds with
brilliant red legs and beaks; prob
ably ibis" in the regions where Har-
ney river enters the everglades were
sent to the Audubon officials on
March 9th, 1905. At the time an
exploring party described the tropi
cal birds in these unknown parts as
countless and expressed apprehen-
sion that their discovery might lead
to some inroads by the worlds army
of professional bird butchers. Since
the first word of this find came to
the ears of the millinery maraud-
ers, all live feathered creatures have
been exterminated throughout the
entire region.
To balk the worldwide activities
of the professional plume hunters,
whose forces have reached and des-
poiled Americas rarest resorts, Eng
land is already taking firm steps.
From end to end the British Empire
has been ravaged as Florida has by
the market feather seekers. A bill
similar to the model law" which
the Audubon workers have succeed
ed In leading almost every state in
this country to adopt, is today be-
ing pressed by Lord Avebury in the
house of lords for the prohibition of
the importation of the plumage, skin
or body of all wild birds except os-
triches, elder ducks and birds used
as articles of diet. Acting upon the
startling reports from Florida, the
Audubon officials declared today
that laws against the sale of the tro-'
plies of this butchery, irrespective
of where they were taken, would be
urged throughout this country. AL
though the English bill is even more
sweeping than the Audubon model
law" here, it is believed that with
proper enforcement the latter may
serve to stay the encroachment of
the international commercial bird
slaughter Eventually it is the pur-
PooC VI lnS dSoOCidllOu W perfect Ill
international organization to check
this securing of the globe for the
adornment of the nations at the ex-
pense of their bird life.
THE aesthetic reasons for check
ing this universal butchery of all
birds who bear the fatal charm of
beauty are secondary" said William
butcher, president of the National
Association of Audubon Societies at
its headquarters, 141 Broadway, to-
day "The primary reasons are
strictly economic. These birds, en-
tirely aside from their wonderful de-
lights as objects of beauty, form the
basis of our nations health as we'll
as prosperity. What the street clean
ing department is to this metropolis
the sea birds are to the whole coun-