New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-06-08

|R WILLIAM r. HORNADAY, di-
rector Of the New York Geological
IL Park. appeared in Washington a
few DAYS ago before the Senate commit
tee 10 ask the Congress Of the United
States TO stop the activities Of the Amerl-
can people in the determination OF birds
for millinery purposes.
on the day Of his return 10 this city
he told the writer that fully one hundred
species Of the most beautiful and curious
birds Of the world are now being extermi-
mated 10 meet the demands for plumes'
feathers and skins TO use on women
hats
He called attention TO such salient facts
as these:
The number Of wild birds annually con-
sumed by the feather trade is so enor-
nous as TO challenge the Imagination.
The whole world is under tribute.
No species is spared for sentimental
reasons.
And the most beautiful and most curl
Gus species are the ones in the greatest
danger
For instance, the exquisite birds OF
paradise are being exterminated literally
before our eyes, and the determination OF
species is a crime The greater and
lesser birds of paradise and the job plro
Of paradise are now nearly extinct
The beautiful quetzal of Guatemala
cannot be obtained alive at any price
The scarlet ibis, roseate spoonful caro-
lima parakeet and iamingO are now lot
ever gone from the bird fauna OF the
United States-thanks. says DR.. Horna-
DAY, TO the feather hunters.
Our own white egrets are so nearly
extinct that ii is about time TO count
them out The great avian wonder OF the
Andes. the condor. is, as Carl HagenoeCh
has said. rapidly being exterminated LOT
It's Quill feathers-demanded by the Lon
don market.
RECORD OF LONDON SALES.
Last year an agent Of the New York
Geological Society purchased at one OF
the London feather sales 900 well mace
skins Of humming birds at two cents
each.
At the London sales OF February, May
and October, 1911, the feathers OF the fol
lowing birds were sold 129l6s egrets
1883 herons. 2O.69S birds Of paradise, 4l'OsO
humming birds, s.4si eagles and condors
and s.742 other birds The grand total Of
% 40 choice birds
The records prove IL TO be an incOn-
testable fact that no species of bird or
mammal can long withstand exploitation
for commercial purposes. And, according
to Dr. Hornaday, the records also show
that civilized man is pulverizing and de-
strOyng all the resources Of nature that
can be made TO yield money profit
The terrific drain upon bird life is not
generally appreciated. During the last
forty years a repulsive and horrify-
ing slaughter has proceeded furiously
throughout every part Of the civilized
world. But during the last hVe years
Dr. Hornsday says, this slaughter has as
sumed most alarming proportions.
Beyond question" said DR.. Hornaday'
we are exterminatlng our finest species
Of mammals. birds and fishes according
TO law. / am appalled, by the mass OF
evidence proving that throughout the en-
tire United States and Canada, in every
state and province, the existing legal
system for the preservation OF wild life IS
fatally defective.
The bird lovers of England, led by the
nobility and even royalty itself, have been
hghting for about that length OF time TO
close the appalling feather market OF
London
The records of the quarterly feather
sales in London show that all the un-
protected regions OF the earth are being
raked and combed for skins. plumes.
quils, heads and crests Of wild birds.
Indians Of Brazil and Venezuela, the
naked Pspuans Of New Guinea and the
Malay Archipelago generally the blacks
OF Central Africa, the fur-clad Siberians
and the sayages OF Nepal and Burma and
Tibet, all are killing birds for the adorn-
meni Of needless women.
II is a fact that the aigrette of fashion