The Audubon Societies 



77 



of Commerce pointed out that the pro- 

 hibition was meant not only to prevent 

 beautiful birds being exterminated, but 

 also to prevent useful birds being reduced 

 in numbers. The Chamber also explained 

 that it was a recognized fact that crops 

 of all kinds were subjected to incalculable 

 damage by insect pests, and that the com- 

 bating of this evil had become one of the 

 greatest diflSculties of the Indian agri- 

 culturist. The principal enemies of these 

 pests were the insectivorous birds, yet 

 these were the very species that hitherto 

 has been relentlessly slaughtered for their 

 plumage. Furthermore, the Chamber 

 continued: As the birds that are killed 



for millinery are held in reverence, their 

 destruction, for any purpose, is strongly 

 resented by Hindus throughout the coun- 

 try, and, with the present political unrest 

 in India, it would be extremely unwise in 

 any way to outrage such deep-rooted 

 feelings. 



"As an object lesson on the respect 

 which the feather-dealer pays to the 

 wishes of India — or of any other country, 

 for the matter of that — that she may be 

 allowed to keep her own birds for the 

 benefit of her agriculture and of her people, 

 it may serve a useful purpose to let you 

 know that the plumage of all that is held 

 most sacred in Hindu mythology, all that 



EGRET SHOT BY FLORIDA PLUME-HUNTER AND BACK "SCALPED" 



FOR THE PLUME 



Photographed by Audubon Warden O. E. Baynard 



