^ I o 1 DuTCHER, Report of Committee on Bird Protectio?i. \\l 



we not take some steps to prevent the loss of bird life in other 

 countries; in other words, should this movement not be an inter- 

 national one ? 



It is eminently fitting that the bird protectors of the United 

 States should join hands with the bird protectors of the other 

 world powers to stop the use of the plumage of wild birds, regard- 

 less of the habits of the bird. 



Recently there appeared in the press a notice published by the 

 Millinery Merchants' Protective Association, as follow : 



"Inasmuch as the Audubon Societies of New York and other cities 

 have sent out circular letters warning the trade against bujing and sell- 

 ing birds and bird plumage, which has caused the impression to prevail 

 among some buyers that all birds and bird plumage are prohibited, we 

 find that it is necessary, in order to inform the trade of what they can and 

 cannot use, to make the following statement: 



"Milliners are warned to eliminate from their stock the birds of 

 America protected by State laws, which include what have been popularly 

 used for the last two or three seasons for millinery trimming, namely, 

 gulls, sea pigeons, herons, terns, and grebes. 



"The laws, both National and State, do not affect the following im- 

 ported birds : paradise, parrots, parroquets, merles, impeyans, nicobars, 

 albenas, Japan and Chinese pheasants, golden pheasants, marabous, 

 gouras, and argus." 



These birds certainly all have their mission to perform in the 

 countries in which they are found, as the North American birds 

 have on this continent. While it may not be possible for this 

 government to legislate to prevent foreign bird skins from being 

 admitted, yet it is believed to be a duty of the A. O. U. and the 

 Audubon Societies to call the attention of the bird-loving citizens 

 of foreign countries to the great numbers of exotic birds that are 

 killed to furnish millinery ornaments for the American trade. It 

 is reported that the Government of India, in September of this 

 year, issued an official order prohibiting the export of wild bird 

 skins and feathers. This will take from the market a great many 

 parroquets, impeyans and nicobars. As the United States has 

 recently come in possession of a vast insular province in the 

 East, we should also urge the Executive of the United States to 

 instruct the Civil Government of the Philippines not to permit any 



