IN THE DUNES 35 



were of no use, and, if they afforded good flying 

 marks, as did the terns, he had no scruples about 

 shooting them and leaving their beautiful bodies, 

 mangled and blood-stained, where they fell. He 

 did not even take the trouble to kill wounded 

 birds that had thus served as his target. If he 

 had feminine friends or relatives who would ap- 

 preciate the graceful wings for their hats, he felt 

 even virtuous in destroying the birds for these 

 trophies and the women thought no ill of the 

 practice. TTie fact that it was the fashion to 

 wear these wings in the hats dulled all thought 

 on the subject. The men who went into the 

 business of supplying the greedy millinery trade 

 felt that the cruelty involved, if they thought of 

 it at all, and the possible total destruction of the 

 birds, was fully justified by the dollars received. 

 If the adult terns were more easily shot when 

 their nests were invaded or their young put in 

 danger, then it was laudable to take advantage 

 of these circumstances. Any one having scru- 

 ples on this point was an unreasonable senti- 

 mentalist and did not deserve the rewards of 

 business. 



