58 



Bird Notes and News 



indignation can defeat this traffic, even though 

 tlie wealthiest of aliens or the most profiteering 

 of traders be its wire-pullers ; to prove that 

 not for ever is the spirit of humanity and the 

 decency of civilisation to be played Avith, 

 baulked, insulted, and tricked in order that 

 these, and such as these, may strip tlie world of 

 l)eautiful and precious wild life, and make of 

 the living heirlooms of the ages a dead witness 

 to the disgrace of British commerce and the 

 shame of British women. 



Determination and iinity of action can wash 

 out the commercial sham))les, and release the 

 nation from the Hunnish burden it has long 

 striven to be rid of ; but no means or oppor- 

 tunity must be lost of impressing and instructing 

 the Parliamentary representatives of the peo])le 

 as to the seriousness of the demand, and of 

 earnestly su])porting the present Government 

 in that concern w-hich Sir Auckland Geddes 

 has ex|)ressed, both to the Society and publicly 

 in the House of Commons, and which he assures 

 us the Government feels, " for the preservation 

 of beautiful bird life." 



A general Committee is being formed in 

 connection with the Royal Society for the 

 Protection of Birds, with the object of ensuring 

 the early introduction of the Bill next session, 

 together with facilities for passing it througli 

 the House without stultifying amendments, 

 enfeebling concessions, or wanton delay by the 

 inordinate discussion of frivolous ol)jections. 



It is felt that many men and women unable 

 to serve on an executive body wuU be willing 

 to give the influence of their names, their 

 active help where possible, or financial assist- 

 ance. The Society asks that all friends of the 

 movement will communicate with the Secretarv 

 of the R.S.P.B., 23, Queen Anne's Gate, S.W.I. 

 Among those who have already consented to 

 join the Committee are : — • 



Tlie Bishop of Hereford (Dr. Hensley 

 Henson), the Dean of St. Paul's (Dr. Inge) 

 Rev. Dr. Clifford, Rev. Dr. Fleming, Rev. 

 Dr. Orchard. Rev. Dr. Scott Lidgett, Rev. 

 J. H. Shakespeare, Rev. Bernard Vaughan. 

 S.J., Lady Feodora Gleichen, the Countess of 

 Warwick, Hon. Lady Barrinston, Lady Hume- 

 Williams, Right Hon. F. b. Acland, M.P., 

 Mr. William Archer, Mr. Lawrence Binyon, 

 Mr. W. S. Blunt, Mr. W. L. Cx)urtney; Sir 

 Arthur Conan Doyle, Mr. John Drinkwatei-, 

 Mr. John Galsworthy, Mr. Thomas Hardv, 

 O.M., Mr. .J. L. Hammond, Right Hon. Sir 

 Charles Hobhouse, Mr. Lawrence Housman, 

 Sir Thomas Jackson, R.A., Mr. Jerome K. 



Jerome. Sir H. H. Johnston, G.C.M.G., 

 Professor Arthur Keith, F.R.S., LL.D., Sir 

 Godfrey Lagdon, G.C.M.G., Mr. Walter de la 

 Mare, Mr. G. A. Macmillan, Sir L. Chiozza- 

 Money, Professor Gilbert Murray, D.Litt., 

 Sir Henry Mewbolt, D.Litt., Mr. Bernard 

 Partridge,^ Major H. Hesketh Pritchard, Mr. W. 

 P. Pycraft, F.Z.S., Mr. Briton Riviere, R.A., 

 Mr. Vernon Rendall, Sir Owen Seaman, Mr. 

 J. C. Squire, Mr. Archibald Thorburn, Mr. 

 H. G. Wells, Miss Cicely Hamilton, and many 

 others, new names being added daily. Vice- 

 Presidents of the Society are ex-ofjicio members. 



As undoubtedly opposition will be speedily 

 to the fore, all wdio wish to judge for themselves, 

 by looking into the past history of the trade and 

 examining the arguments by which it has been 

 defended as well as the verdict given against 

 it by scientific men, will do well to read the 

 publications, old and new, issued by the Royal 

 Society for the Protection of Birds, 



All interested are also asked to write to their 

 Members of Parliament, urging them to press 

 for the early introduction of the Bill, and to 

 support it in the House. It is pleasant to add 

 that the first woman M.P., Lady Astor, writes 

 to the Society that she will certainly support 

 the measure. Lord Astor (then Mr. Waldorf 

 Astor) was one of those who voted for the lOl-i 

 Bill. 



THE GERMAN BADGE OF CRUELTY. 



Under this title a leaflet has been issued by the 

 Canadian Government, and it is hojied that copies 

 will be available for distribution in Great Britain. 



" In the Canadian War Trophies Exhibition 

 is a headdress which belonged to Prince 

 Joachim, the Kaiser's youngest son. This 

 headdress is top])ecl wuth a huge bunch of 

 ' aigrette " plumes. 



■' What could be more suitable for a German 

 princeling's hat than this badge of cruelty ■? 

 What W'Oman in Canada wishes to follow his 

 style and flaunt similar ])lumes before the eyes 

 of many who know the story of the Egret ? . . . 



■' Fortunately it is now contrary to law to 

 impoit the plumage of these birds into Canada. 

 Severe penalties are provided for buying, 

 selling, or having in possession any portion 

 of the birds. It is hoped that in this instance 

 civilisation will triumph over barbarism, and 

 that the German badge of cruelty will disappear 

 from our midst." 



What about Great Britain and British 

 women ? 



