THE GULF COAST OF FLORIDA 359 



Such was the scene that I saw repeated over 

 and over and over and over again on my journey 

 southward. Not only were the heron rookeries 

 dealt with in this way, but on one large island I 

 counted scores upon scores of dead brown pelicans, 

 stripped of their plumage, and in the trees over- 

 head were countless nests, which at the time of 

 my visit contained the decaying bodies of young 

 birds. Flocks of buzzards slept, gorged, on the 

 naked limbs hard by, attesting to the horrible 

 slaughter by the countless dead they left un- 

 touched. 



A word more, and I have done. All this was 

 undertaken and accomplished for what.f^ For 

 decoration to satisfy a sense of beauty ? I believe 

 it was rather to follow a fashion. I wish clearly 

 to emphasize the fact that I do not blame the 

 women who use these decorations, for men are 

 the responsible parties. No woman ever wore a 

 decoration of any kind, much less the feathers 

 of a bird, for her own pleasure or to attract the 

 attention of other women. The object for which 

 women wear all decorations is to enhance their 

 attractiveness and beauty to men, not to them- 

 selves or to each other ; and as long as men care 

 to have women's hats decorated with feathers, and 

 express their approval by admiration bestowed, 

 just so long will the custom endure. 



Nor is this barbarous persecution confined to 



