CHAPTER XIV 



THE HORRORS OF THE TAKING 

 OF AIGRETTES 



The beautiful plumes so frequently 

 seen on a lady's hat are aigrettes, taken 

 from the backs of the American and 

 Snowy Egrets. Where did she get them? 

 From the retail milliner, who buys 

 them from the wholesale supply house, 

 which secures them from the plume- 

 hunter, actually, the Egret Slaughterer. 

 The story of how the latter gets the 

 plumes is as follows: After selecting 

 a roost, he shoots the adult birds, which 

 have nests in the vicinity, for he shoots 

 the birds only during the breeding 

 season, as that is the only time at which 

 the plumes are worn. He slaughters 

 151 



