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By the Rev. A. C. Smith. 363 
I cannot take leave of this subject without once more lifting up 
my voice against another most grievous practice, which, though 
often denounced in very plain language, is not by any means abated. 
I mean the modern fashion on the part of the fair sex, of wearing 
birds, or parts of birds’ plumage, in their hats. I am quite certain 
that the gentle kind-hearted ladies of England would abstain from 
this practice, however fashionable, could they but realize the whole- 
sale massacre of countless beautiful happy birds, which this most 
unfortunate demand for them entails. I do not exaggerate when I 
say that the annual slaughter of sea birds for this purpose amounts 
to tens of thousands ; and, but a short time since, a single plumassier 
gave an order for five hundred robins! and another still more recently 
for one hundred kingfishers! and all for what? in order (as the 
noble President of the British Ornithologists’ Union has cleverly 
expressed it) ‘ to supply ladies with feathers for personal disfigure- 
ment.” With the whole realm of beautiful botanical specimens 
open to them for selection, and which are really graceful and 
appropriate adornments ; it seems amazing that the lifeless body or 
part of a body of a bird, slaughtered for that express purpose, should 
be chosen in preference, and most unnaturally and quite unbe- 
comingly be made to do duty in their place! whereas in reality the 
very commonest flower so employed is far more beautiful, because 
far more in place and infinitely more harmonious with its surround- 
ings; in short, the one is adapted to the position, and therefore 
natural and charming; the other is altogether out of place, and 
therefore ungraceful and unmeaning. 
