Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1910-07-27
NATIONS TO SHIELD BIRDS.
United Powers May Halt World
Wide Bird Butchery.

w lut olEu
New YORK July o - To array fourteen
OF the world powers against the butchery
of the birds OF the globe for millinery
ornamentatioE is the object OF an inter-
national movement which has been for
maily called to the attention Of the United
States government from this city to-day.
Recommendations for the prohibition
OF this feather traffic by non-export and
non import laws in Great Britain, Ger
many, France, Italy, Russia, Norway,
Sweden. Belgium, Denmark, Holland,
Hungary, Austria,i Bavaria and this
country have just been filed with Secre-
tary-of-State Knox at Washington by
William butcher, president of the Ma
tional association Of Audubon societies,
who represented the United States at the
recent international archaeological con-
gress in Berlin, where they were framed
and unanimously endorsed by delegates
from every part of the world.
Though England and several other
foreign nations are already considering
this urgent call Of the worlds ornitho-
logists, it is expected that Uncle sam will
take the lead in practical cooperation to
save the wild birds that save the crops and
health of every people.
For the first time in history, the ornitho-
logical authorities in their international
conciave are reported to have been able TO
unite upon some simple course OF action
that would best check the economic loss
OF billions of dollars each year that has
been shown to result from the killing of
the pest destroying and plague prevent
ing wild birds of land and water.
BY the ornithologists Of the nations it is
generally conceded that bird slaughter and
sale for millinery purposes is the chief
cause for the threatened extinction OF
their valuable bird life, according to Mr..
Durcher, who devoted his entire energies
in Berlin to the paramount question OF
bird protection.
While rational shooting laws and
acquainting the public with the value Of
birds have been advocated by the con-
principal plea to the world powers for the
prohibition Of export, import, purchase or
sale OF the plumes OF wild birds for mill
nery purposes.
Acting as an international committee
for tine protection OF BIRDS, a score Of
archaeological experts selected from the
nobility and scientists OF fourteen Of the
leading nations are to-day placing before
their governments the proposition Of CO.
operation to break up the destruction Of
bird life by the world traffic in
feathers.
Though the people of this country have
come to extend reasonable protection to
their birds in many states, the destruction
Of American bird life must go on as long
as any. foreign country continues to offer a
market for the sale OF the scalps Of the
birds OF the United States, it is pointed
out by Mr.. butcher, who with Dr. T. s.
Palmer, of the department of agriculture
at Washington, represents this country on
the international committee.
"Americans need the help of the great
world owners-as every other people need
our help-to check the destruction of the
birds who work for our common pros
perity and health" said Mr.. butcher at
the headquarters OF the National associa-
ton of Audubon societies to-day. SOW
ing to the high prices offered for the
plumes of white heron, birds OF paradise,
hummingbirds, albatrosses and similar
species, in the European markets, these
birds have been slaughtered almost to the
point OF extinction.
son the other hand, thousands of the
valuable insectiverous wild birds and