BIRD STUDY 305 



Stream a few years ago mentions a dealer who during a 

 three-months trip to the coast of South Carolina prepared 

 no less than eleven thousand and eighteen bird skins. 

 This is but one instance. Many others of the same sort 

 might be quoted. It is a well-known fact that in Florida 

 the white heron is becoming practically extinct because so 

 many of the delicate, graceful plumes known as egrets, 

 have been transferred from the backs of the birds to the 

 hats of American women. 



It is also true that on many islands along the Atlantic 

 coast gulls, terns, and other sea birds have been almost 

 exterminated for the same reason. 



But we must not imagine that it is only Southern and 

 sea birds that are slaughtered for the millinery trade. 

 Many bright plumaged birds of our Middle West suffer the 

 same fate. An Indianapolis taxidermist stated tjiat in 

 1895 there were shipped from that city five thousand bird 

 skins, all collected in the Ohio valley. 



If women could be brought face to face with the facts, 

 if they only knew the terrible cruelty practiced in securing 

 bird skins, if they realized the great loss to the country due 

 to the destruction of so many insect eaters, the sacrifice 

 would be stopped. But they do not know and the de- 

 struction goes on. 



In view of all these facts, is it not time that we make an 

 effort to awaken in our boys and girls a genuine interest in 

 the protection of our birds? 



When the girls of our public schools have been thor- 

 oughly aroused to use their influence in the right direction, 

 the problem of how to prevent the killing of birds for mil- 

 linery purposes will be solved. 



