26 STRA Y FEA THERS FROM MANY BIRDS. 



from Africa and the East ; Ptarmigan from Arctic 

 snows ; Snipes and Plovers from northern regions ; 

 beautiful Egrets and Herons from southern rivers and 

 marshes all find a ready sale according to the ephemeral 

 fashion that may chance to reign supreme. But the 

 plumassier's art does not end here he increases the 

 diversity of his goods by the aid of dyes, and by ringing 

 the changes in an endless variety of ways. He puts the 

 Dove's head on the Tanager's body, or the wings of the 

 Woodpecker or Trogon are mingled with the plumes of 

 Egrets, or the heads of Snipes and Plovers. He frosts 

 the feathers of some with gold and silver ; and by 

 endless combinations tries to supply the endless thirst for 

 novelty in the female heart. Sometimes big birds are 

 all the rage, and then the Owls, large Pigeons and 

 Gulls have a bad time of it ; at others small birds alone 

 suit the ladies' capricious tastes, so that the trade in plumes 

 and birds fluctuates almost as restlessly as the shares in a 

 gold or silver mine. What may be all the fashion in 

 winter are discarded in spring, and the summer choice 

 may differ just as widely from that which prevails in 

 autumn. India and South America are the two great 

 centres from which most of the birds in this peculiar 

 trade are sent ; but many other districts contribute an 

 important share. For instance, the endless marshes of 

 Florida are robbed of their bird treasures for the New 

 York plumassiers ; and much of the delicate and costly 



