BIRD NOTES AND NEWS. 



89 



taken of two young Plumed Egrets and one young 

 Large Egret together in the same nest. These three 

 birds were the sole survivors of several broods of 

 both species which had nested together in the same 

 tree. They had evidently sought one another's 

 company because all the balance of the nestlings 

 had expired through lack of nourishment, their 

 parents having been shot by the plume-hunters — 

 or, rather, plume-plunderers." 



Such scenes have been described again and 

 again by naturalists in various parts of the 

 world, where the hapless Egret is found ; and 

 they are the scenes that have been, and are 

 being, enacted wherever the plume-dealers 

 send their hunters to obtain "ospreys" for 

 women's wear. 



Enlargements of Mr. Mattingley's photo- 

 graphs have been exhibited in shop windows 

 in leading thoroughfares of Australia's great 

 cities, with the result that a strong wave of 

 public feeling has passed over the country, 

 and (as stated in the Summer Number of 

 Bird Notes and News) a powerful deputa- 

 tion of scientific bodies waited on the Prime 

 Minister to press for Federal legislation on 

 the subject. A Bill to prevent exportation 

 was promised ; and the importation of 

 plumage from New Guinea has been pro- 

 hibited by a Customs proclamation. 



These photographs have now been sent to 

 England by Mr. Mattingley, and it is hoped 

 that they may, in a new and telling way, 

 bring home to legislators, to the public, and 

 to women, the truth about the " osprey " 

 plume. The enlargements are each some 22 in. 

 by 16 in., and are thus most effective for 

 public exhibition. They are available for 

 lending to any Hon. Local Secretary, or 

 other Fellow or Member of the Royal Society 

 for the Protection of Birds, who can arrange 

 to have them shown in a suitable place ; and 

 those able to undertake this are asked to 

 communicate their willingness to do so to the 

 Secretary of the Society, at 23, Queen Anne's 

 Gate, London, S.W. One set has already 

 been exhibited in a shop window commanding 

 an excellent position in Redhill, and attracted 

 crowds of interested spectators of all classes. 

 It is much to be desired that similar arrange- 



ments should be made for their conspicuous 

 display in every large town in the kingdom. 



" The Story of the Egret " can be had as a 

 leaflet for threepence, or half-a-crown a dozen ; 

 and a special edition, with the plates on 

 art-paper, mounted, for one shilling each. 



Lantern slides are also being prepared 

 from the seven pictures, for the use of 

 lecturers. 



It is necessary to say once more, that 

 there are no such things as " artificial 

 ospreys." The old story of horse-hair and 

 whalebone plumes is still being told in the 

 shops, and is still deluding perplexed ladies. 



This autumn the special "rage" appears 

 to be for wings, and many shop-windows 

 are piled with these poor useless, stiffened 

 "ornaments," in every colour and of the 

 largest size that can be had. It would 

 appear that women, not having as yet 

 mastered the art of aviation, are determined 

 to put an end to the soaring flight of as 

 many other creatures as possible. Any and 

 all of these wings, whether Kittiwake, Gull, 

 Sea-swallow, or what-not, and all "made-up" 

 feathers from the plumage of Kingfisher or 

 Owl or tropical Finch, are sold as "poultry" 

 or "chicken," if the buyer so desires it. 

 Therefore the only course open to the 

 woman who does not wished to be duped, 

 is to refrain from doubtful feathers of every 

 kind. Many ladies Avill most certainly do 

 so. Others will allow themselves to be 

 deceived again and again, and a certain 

 number will not heed any appeal of angels 

 or of men if they may by any means be 

 "smart." A little time ago a member of 

 the R.S.P.B., a lady well-known in society, 

 addressed herself to an acquaintance who 

 was weaing Bird-of -Paradise plumes. Her 

 eloquent words on behalf of the birds were 

 heard without comprehension for a while, 

 and then the reply came, " Oh, you are 

 talking about my feathers. Well, then, let 



me tell you I don't care one little about 



the birds ! " 



