13 



The Army Order. 



In 1898, through the action of Lord Wolseley, Commander- in- 

 Chief, the authorities at the War Office resolved to discontinue 

 the use of " osprey " plumes in the British Army. In a letter 

 to the Hon. Secretary of the S.P.B. from Dublin on August 2nd, 

 1895, Lieut.-Colonel Childers wrote : 



" Lord Wolseley desires me to inform you that he has 

 ascertained, on enquiry, that the plumes worn by officers of 

 Horse Artillery, Hussars, King's Royal Rifles, and Rifle 

 Brigade are obtained from the birds of various species of 

 white Egrets and Herons during the nesting season, at which 

 time these birds are in full plumage. An enormous number 

 are also worn by ladies, who are responsible for nine- tenths 

 of the amount annually slain." 



In 1899 the Order was given that the officers of the regiments 

 who had hitherto worn " ospreys " should henceforth wear 

 plumes made from ostrich feathers. Previously to this, turbans 

 had been substituted for plumed caps in the dress of the Viceroy 

 of India's Bodyguard, for the same reason. 



Exportation from India. 



In 1902 the Government of India issued a Circular to all the 

 local Governments and Administrations with reference to the 

 protection of wild birds in India, in which the following questions 

 were asked : 



11 To what extent the skins of birds of handsome or useful 

 plumage are exported, and whether this trade has increased 

 or decreased of late years ; also whether there is reason to 

 believe that the destruction of wild birds, especially of non- 

 migratory insectivorous birds, during what should be close 

 seasons for them, is extensive throughout the country ; and, 

 if so, whether it is leading to the extermination of any species 

 of wild birds." 



As a result of this enquiry the Government of India issued an 

 Ordinance (Customs Circular No. 13, of 1902) prohibiting entirely 



