296 FRANCIS ORPEN MORRIS 



It is remarkable might we not say touching ? to 

 see with what persistence Mr. Morris devoted him- 

 self at all times to the cause of his feathered friends. 

 Advancing years were no barrier to him, nor in any- 

 wise cooled his ardour in his ceaseless activities and 

 earnest labours on their behalf. 



In the autumn of 1885 the fashion was at its 

 height of decking ladies' hats, bonnets, and dresses 

 with stuffed birds or portions of them. It was im- 

 possible for such a fashion to escape the censure of 

 him who had attempted and accomplished so much 

 in defence of the birds. It was not to his thinking 

 enough simply to decry the fashion. He therefore 

 threw himself heart and soul into an organised 

 crusade against it. Accordingly, towards the close 

 of the same year, at the suggestion of Lady Mount- 

 Temple, he took the lead in establishing what was 

 called "The Plumage League." The membership 

 was restricted to ladies. Its main object was to 

 discourage by every means in their power by 

 their example, their practice, their influence, their 

 words, and their writings the use of small and 

 other birds stuffed for the supposed adornment of 

 dresses, hats, and bonnets. It was urged in the 

 circular announcing the formation of the League 

 that, if ladies wished to adorn themselves in this 

 way, they should use artificial birds ; a new industry 

 would thus be developed for this purpose, after the 

 manner of the industry for the manufacture of arti- 

 ficial flowers. 



On December iqth in this year a letter signed 



