i8o Cincinnati Society of Natural History. 



age Wearing Societies, and to aid the Humane Society in its eff<-)ils 

 to lessen this evil. 



Until recently, attention has not been generally called to this 

 matter, but now that th-i American Ornithologists Unicjn, Com- 

 mittee on Bird Protection, have been doing such good work in this 

 country in publishing the facts of the case, there is more knowl- 

 edge on this subject. 



Mr. Bicknell says : 



" So long as the demand continues, the supply will come. 

 I^aw of itself can be of little, perhaps of no ultimate avail. It may 

 give check, but this tide of destruction it is powerless to stay. The 

 demand will be met ; the offenders will find it worth while to dare 

 the Law. One thing, only, will step this cruelty — the disapproba- 

 tion of fashion. It is our women who hold this great power. Let 

 the women say the word and hundreds of thousands of bird lives 

 every year will be preserved. And until woman does use lier in- 

 fluence, it is in vain to hope that this nameless sacrifice will cease 

 until it has worked out its own end and the birds are gone. It is 

 earnestly hoped that the ladies of this city can be led to see this 

 matter in its true light, and to take some pronounced stand in be- 

 half of the birds and against the prevailing fashions. 



It is known that even now birds are not worn by some on 

 grounds of humanity, yet little is to be expected from individuals 

 challenging the fashion. Concert of action is needed. The sen- 

 timent of humanity once widely aroused, and the birds are safe. 

 Surely those who unthinkingly have been the sustaining cause of a 

 great cruelty will not refuse their influence in abating it, now that 

 they are awakened to the truth. Already word comes from Lon- 

 don that women are taking up the work there. Can we do less ? 

 It needs only united action sustained by resolution and sincerity of 

 purpose to crush a painful wrong, truly a barbarism, and to achieve 

 a humane work so far reaching in its effects as to out^sweep the 

 span of our own generation, and promise a blessing to those A^ho 

 will come after." 



