76 ^-otes: ["^Y^J. 



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The Destruction of Birds. — Too much notice cannot be 

 drawn to the frightful destruction of birds going on everywhere 

 for the sake of their plumage to satisfy the whims of fashion. 

 Mr. J. W. Mellor, of Adelaide, in the last number of the Umuy 

 quotes a number of statements made iti an address to the Royal 

 Society of x\rts (England) by Mr. James Buckiand, the promoter 

 of the Plumage Bill. It appears that in Venezuela in 1898 over 

 I ^ millions of White Herons were killed for the sake of their 

 plumes ; ten years later the birds had become so scarce that only 

 a quarter of a million could be obtained. Another bird of that 

 country has been seized upon by fashion, the large quills from the 

 tail and wings of the Jabiru or Giant Stork being in great demand, 

 and 28,250 quills were catalogued at a London plume sale. 

 How many birds were destroyed to obtain these is hard to say, 

 but, doubtless, several thousands. Venezuela seems to be a 

 happy hunting ground for bird vandals, for the British Consul at 

 Ciudad Bolivar reports that during 1908 nearly five tons of 

 feathers were exported for millinery purposes. The American 

 Flamingo has also come under the notice of the bird-hunters, and 

 the interesting description Mr. F. M. Chapman, of the New York 

 Natural History Museum, wrote in 1904 of their breeding- habits 

 on one of the outer Bahama Islands has almost led to their 

 extermination. Fortunately the situation was recognized in time, 

 and they have had a certain amount of protection awarded to 

 them. Numerous other instances are quoted of birds which are 

 becoming scarce solely owing to their market value as furnishers 

 of bright plumage suitable for ladies' hats. Although the 

 Humming-bird is protected by law throughout Great Britain's 

 possessions in the West Indies, no less than 25,000 skins have 

 been catalogued at recent London sales, where the prices realized 

 were from id. to i ^d. per skin. Mr. Buckiand says the eye of the 

 plume-hunter is on Australian birds. Recently 490 emus were 

 killed at a single drive in Queensland, and 419 were smuggled 

 out of Australia and sold in the London sale-rooms on 4th 

 August last. In 1907 Lyre-bird tails to the number of 180 were 

 sold in London. The brilliant Rifle-bird and the handsome 

 Regent-bird are fast disappearing to please the whims of fashion. 

 Let us hope that the proposed bill will be able to save the lives 

 of some of our feathered beauties. Why cannot the ladies be 

 content with ostrich plumes, the production of which is un- 

 accompanied by taking of life ? 



The Geology of Melbourne. — A series of University 

 Extension lectures under this title has been arranged to be 

 delivered by Mr. G. B. Pritchard, B.Sc, F.G.S., commencing on 

 Friday, 5th August, at 8 p.m., at Bradshaw's Business College, 

 opposite the Flinders-street station. Copies of the syllabus can 

 be obtained from the hon. secretary, Mr. V. R. M'Nab, Working 

 Men's College. The fee has been fixed at ten shillings for the 

 series of ten lectures and two field excursions. 



