n6


This would do the birds no harm, and ensure the ladies a con¬

stant supply of what is undoubtedly a very beautiful article of

decoration.


That the idea of taxing wild birds of their plumes, so to

speak, is not an impracticable one has been proved by practical

experience in several instances. In Central America the natives

before the Spanish conquest habitually treated the magnificent

Ouezal or Resplendent Trogon ( Pharomacrus mocinno) in this

way; no one was allowed to kill the bird, but it might be

limed and robbed of its yard-long, burnished-green train,

for royal wear only. Similarly, in the Sandwich Islands, the

O—o, ( Acrulocercus nobilis ), a large black Honey-Sucker, was

regularly caught and despoiled of two brilliant yellow tufts grow¬

ing under the armpits, which were wanted for the regal feather-

mantles. Both birds have survived to the present day, whereas

had they been killed outright for their feathers they would

undoubtedly have been exterminated long ago. Indeed, this has

happened with another Sandwich Island bird used for this

purpose, the Manio (Drepanis pacifica). This bird was about

half yellow, and hence either had to be killed outright or could

not stand so much plucking.


Of course, I don’t for a moment advocate that Egrets

should be plucked ; clipping off the plumes would be the proper

course to pursue in all such cases, and this should be insisted on.

Thus a valuable product would be secured at very little incon¬

venience to the birds, and an additional motive would be given

for their protection, while the Government might derive some

benefit from the licences.


After this somewhat lengthy discussion of Herons’ and

Women’s Rights, we will proceed to the discrimination of the

different kinds of Egrets. They are all, as 1 said before, long

slender birds ; and their necks are closely feathered and hence

look particularly slim. They have the usual sedentary and

piscatorial habits of Herons, and all associate when breeding.

They are always all white, and, except for size, look very much

alike out of the breeding season. At that time, however, they

are sufficiently distinct, as each has a different style of trousseau,

which, as usual in Herons, is worn by the bridegroom as well as

the bride ; and it is amusing to note that the smaller the bird, the

more elaborately it dresses. There are three sizes of Egrets, of

which the biggest is : —



