20 



THE CANADIAN H0KT1CDLTURI8T. 



tion. American bird skins are sent 

 abroad. The great European markets 

 draw their supplies from all over the 

 world. In London there were sold in 

 thi-ee months from one auction room, 

 404,464 West Indian and Brazilian 

 bird skins, and 356,389 East Indian 

 birds. In Paris 100,000 African birds 

 have been sold by one dealer in one 

 year. One New York firm recently 

 had a contract to supply 40,000 skins 

 of American birds to one Pai'is firm. 

 These figures tell their own story — but 

 it is a story which might be known 

 even without them ; we may read it 

 plainly enougli in the silent hedges, 

 once vocal with the morning songs of 

 birds, and in the deserted fields where 

 once bright plumage flashed in the sun- 

 light." 



As horticulturists, it is our duty to 

 work in harmony with such a society 

 as this, for most birds are our friends 

 and very few are our enemies. If only 

 our lady friends would content them- 

 selves with wearing English sparrows 

 as decorations for their hats and bon- 

 nets, we could pass it by ; but no, the 

 useful and the beautiful birds are 

 chosen without regard to anything but 

 the dictates of Madam Fashion. 



A careful count was made of the 

 number of visits made by the parent 

 Martins to their nest in a single 

 day, and it was found to amount to 

 three hundred and twelve, and each 

 time bi'inging insects for their young ! 

 Already these insects nearly ruin our 

 fruit crop ; and who can predict the 

 result if we are deprived of the friendly 

 aid of the birds 1 



The following three objects are in- 

 cluded in the pledges signed by the 

 members of the Society, viz., to prevent 

 as far as possible : 



"(1) The killing of any wild bird 

 not used for food. 



" (2) The taking or destroying of 

 the eggs or nests of any wild birds. 



" (3) The wearing of the feathers of 

 wild birds. Ostrich feathers, whether 

 from wild or tame birds, and those of 

 domestic fowls, are specially exempted. 



" The Audubon Society aims espe- 

 cially to preserve those l)irds which are 

 now practically without protection. 

 Our game birds are already protected 

 by law, and in large measure by public 

 sentiment, and their care may be left 

 to the sportsman. The great aim of 

 the Society is the protection of non- 

 game birds." 



Anyone wishing to join this Society 

 may address it at 40 Park Row, New 

 York City ; its work has our heartiest 

 approval. 



Still Wanted. — More copies of January, 

 April, August and October numbers of 

 year 1886. 



A Stock of Sample Copies of back numbers 

 of the Canadian Horticulturist sent free 

 to any one who will distribute them 

 with the object of enlarging the circu- 

 lation of this journal and of increasing 

 the membership of the Fruit Growers' 

 Association. 



Michigan Horticultural Society. — Mr. Gar- 

 field has sent us the local report of this 

 interesting meeting, held 1st December 

 last, and we hope to find room for some 

 extracts in our February Number. 



Appreciative. — Mr. Allan Chapman, 

 Deans, writes : " The Canadian Horti- 

 culturist is a little book that is always 

 welcome here. It is so plain and prac- 

 tical that the most unexperienced can 

 always learn something from its pages." 



Mr. A. Walker, Metcalfe: "I am 

 much pleased with the Canadian Horti- 

 culturist. This is a very cold part of 

 Ontario, and if the Vladimir cherry 

 succeeds here we shall be very thank- 

 ful to the Fruit Growers' Association." 



A. J. Collins, Listowel : " I am 

 better pleased each year with what I 

 receive as to information and presents." 



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