102 A BIRD CALENDAR 



far more astonished than hurt. It betakes itself 

 to its wild companions, and the net is again 

 set.- Presently another egret is caught and 

 divested -pi. its .plumes, and the process con- 

 tinues all dayv*s."V<.*v 



The bird-catchers spend six weeks every 

 year in obtaining cattle-egret plumes in this 

 manner. They sell the plumes to middle-men, 

 who dispose of them to those who smuggle 

 them out of India. 



If stuffed birds were used as decoys and the 

 plumes of the captured birds were snipped off 

 with scissors instead of being pulled out, the 

 operation could be carried on without any 

 cruelty, and, if legalised and supervised by the 

 Government, it could be made a source of 

 considerable revenue. 



