336 WITH THE U. S. NATURALISTS 



of letters from the wardens telling of desperate 

 rifle battles that they have had with poachers, and 

 has drawn up a letter and resolutions of condolence 

 to the widow of one of our agents who was shot to 

 death while guarding a Florida bird rookery. 



" 'I have never known a woman who labored 

 more conscientiously or who, apparently, was more 

 interested in the work. Frequently her eyes would 

 open mde and she would express resentment when 

 reports reached the office of the atrocities per- 

 petrated on wild birds by the heartless agents 

 of the feather trade. 



" ^Eecently, she married and left us. Last 

 week she called at the office, looking very happy 

 and radiant. After a few minutes' conversation, 

 she approached the subject which evidently lay 

 close to her heart. Indicating a cluster of para- 

 dise aigrettes, kept in a case in the office for ex- 

 hibition purposes, she looked me straight in the 

 face, and in the most frank and guileless manner, 

 asked me to sell them to her for her new hat ! ' 



"That sort of thing, Shan," the Feather Man 

 continued, *4s what we have to fight. Those who 

 have the interest of birds at heart have not only 

 to try and break down the carelessness of others, 

 but also we have to combat the deliberate dis- 



