THE EGRET 147 



the nullifying of our present laws, as it is practically impos- 

 sible to secure evidence of their violation on the part of the 

 dealers. It also means, unless some adequate means are 

 found, the inevitable destruction of all these beautiful species 

 from the face of the earth. 



In these days there is arising a many-sided and tremendous 

 problem in regard to saving the natural world from ignor- 

 ant, short-sighted, commercial vandalism. Every tree must 

 be cut down, every plant pulled up, every wild thing slaugh- 

 tered, every beautiful scene disfigured, if only there is money 

 to be made from it. What remedies are there to propose ? 



Regarding the herons, an agreement on the part of all the 

 nations concerned to penalize the killing of these birds and 

 the possession (including wearing) or exportation of all such 

 plumes would be excellent. Meanwhile, in our own country, 

 the POSSESSION of all such plumes should make one liable 

 to the fine for killing a heron, which, in Florida, is $500. 

 How many aigrettes would then be bought and worn, pray 

 tell! 



Then, too, there should be carried on all the time a cam- 

 paign of education, not simply about this single matter of the 

 " aigrette," but to arouse sympathetic interest in the lives of 

 all harmless wild creatures, that people may learn to realize 

 their value and desire not to kill, but to protect them. Teach- 

 ers should so teach their scholars, parents their children, 

 the clergy preach to their congregations with no uncertain 

 voice, that no one may in future have an excuse for ignorance 

 and thoughtlessness of this important subject. 



In these enlightened days it should be a matter of moral 

 principle with every true lady neither to wear aigrette plumes 

 nor any plumage of wild birds. Even if we grant that man 

 has a right to the lives of wild creatures, this millinery use of 

 birds is too costly from other standpoints. It is a dangerous 



