54 



CHAPTER THE THIRD. 



THE HERONS AND EGRETS OF FLORIDA. 



The statements of the trade with regard to Florida and its 

 Egrets are as follows : 



"It is, no doubt, true that the Egret at one time existed in very large 

 numbers in Florida. The birds exist still in numerous swamps known 

 as the Everglades, but there has never been any supply of importance 



from those parts American commercial development is entirely 



responsible for the disappearance of the White Heron from its old-time 

 haunts ; the feather-trade is not." " The Feather Trade,'* pp. 40, 102. 



" They were not exterminated ; they migrated. You might just as well 

 say that because you do not see foxes on Hampstead Heath, foxes are 

 exterminated." Mr. Downham, before the House of Lords Committee, 

 1908. 



" The Egret . . . thrives to-day in the remote Everglades of Florida 

 and in Southern States. . . . Naturally enough these Egrets are not 

 to be encountered in the beaten paths of the United States tourist." " The 

 Feather Trade," p. 14. 



" There never were many Egrets in Florida. You can soon exterminate 

 a small number of birds in a small part of the country. If there were 

 Egrets in the Isle of Wight they would soon be exterminated." Mr. G. K. 

 Dunstall, before the H.L. Committee. 



" The tale about the birds being shot at breeding time is a fairy myth." 



Mr. Weiler, before the H.L. Committee. 



The testimony of ornithologists with many years' experience 

 of the place and conditions of which they write, is as follows. 

 It has been published on the Continent, and in the State where 

 these things have happened ; and it has never been refuted : 



Extracts from the Journal of the late Mr. W. E. D. Scott, member 

 of the American Ornithologists' Union, published in the "Auk " 



(the organ of the A.O.U.) in 1887 : 



(A summary of Mr. Scott's papers was read by Professor 

 Newton at the annual meeting of the Society for the Protection 

 of Birds, in 1893, and published by the Society (Leaflet No. 7). 



" 4th May, 1887. Charlotte Harbour. Only a few ye 

 ago bird-life so abundant that it would be difficult to ex 

 gerate the numbers. Captain Baker said that about si 



