FEATHERS IN HATS 191 



from which the wind blew. Marlow, in his "Jew 

 of Malta," says : 



" But how now stands the wind ? 

 Into what corner peers my Halcyon's bill ? ' 



In more recent times we read of people who 

 believed that the breast of the Kingfisher would 

 always point to the north if the bird was suspended 

 by a thread ; while the Tartars preserve the skin 

 and carry it about their persons as a charm against 

 accidents or disease. These people also believed 

 that the feathers had some magic power in securing 

 a woman's love. 



Enormous numbers of these beautiful birds are 

 slaughtered each year to gratify the cravings of 

 such women as wear feathers in their hats. At 

 one sale in London, that came under my notice, 

 nine hundred Kingfisher skins were offered, 

 besides two hundred and sixty thousand other gay- 

 plumaged birds, and forty- nine thousand six 

 hundred ounces of " Osprey " feathers ! 



Of course the majority of the Kingfisher skins 

 are procured abroad ; but still, many of our native 

 birds are ruthlessly slaughtered to serve the 

 purpose of feminine adornment. I have heard 

 women, while wearing feathers of rare birds in their 

 hats, discourse on the cruelty of shooting, and yet 



