152 THE BIRDS OF 



them by the hundred, and leaves their 

 young to die of starvation, after untold 

 agony. Sometimes before the birds are 

 dead, their backs are torn off, and they 

 are left to die and be eaten by insects. 

 In South America, wounded birds are 

 propped up to attract the attention of 

 passing birds, and sometimes the red 

 ants eat the eyes out of the wounded 

 birds. The young call for food until 

 they are too weak to stand, and then 

 die. 



All assertions by milliners that the 

 plumes are artificial or have been 

 moulted are false. It is impossible at 

 the present time to imitate them satis- 

 factorily, and after being dropped by 

 the birds, they are unfit for use. 



Shall we let the birds be extermi- 

 nated? Do you realize that a prom- 

 inent scientist has said: "I will go on 

 record to say that one kind of bird be- 



