NOTES AND QUERIES. 179 
BIRDS. 
The Destruction of Birds for Plumes,—The American Ornithological 
Society has issued a strongly-worded protest against the wholesale destruction 
of birds of brilliant plumage for the decoration of ladies’ hats. The killing 
of birds for mercenary purposes has increased of late years in the United 
States to an almost incredible extent, and already in some species there is 
a startling decrease in the number of the feathered tribe. Every year 
orders go north, south, and west for hundreds of thousands of birds to 
supply “the trade.” In fact, unless protection comes soon for many of the 
more beautiful and prized species, it will come too late. By the statutes 
of most of the States, the favourite song birds of America are shielded 
from destruction, and game birds are also protected by law through a 
greater part of the year. But, so long as the demand for bird-plumage 
lasts, the supply will continue, even though the price asked for favourite 
“wings ” rises with ominous and alarming rapidity. One thing only will 
arrest the wanton destruction of the birds, and-that is a change of fashion 
brought about by the concerted action of thoughtful and humane women, 
The American ornithologists appeal to the ladies of New York to make a 
pronounced stand on behalf of the birds and against the prevailing barbaric 
fashions. It is obvious that little good can result from individuals 
challenging public taste, and therefore women’s leagues are to be formed in 
the United States, with head-quarters at the Museum of Natural History in 
the Central Park, New York, to bring about, by reason and persuasion, a 
welcome change of a cruel fashion. In London, through the instru- 
mentality of Mr. G. 8. Musgrave, an association has been formed, called 
“The Selborne Society,” having the same object in view as the American 
society. Mr. Musgrave, whose address is 45, Holland Park, Kensington, 
W., has issued a pamphlet on the subject, which he will be glad to forward 
on receipt of a penny stamp, and he wishes those who desire to support the 
movement to forward their names to him, together with a donation, how- 
ever small, to aid in defraying the cost of printing and advertising. We 
trust that his efforts to cheek the unreasonable destruction of bird-life, 
which has for a long time been carried on merely to comply with a fashion, 
may ultimately prove successful. 
Migration of Birds on the West Coast of England and Wales.—As 
the member of the British Association Committee in charge of the above 
section of the Migration Report, I shall be glad to receive from ornithologists 
and others, as early as possible, observations on the migratory movements 
of all species, and on the occurrence of rare or uncommon visitors, within 
the region (inclusive of inland localities) during the spring and autumn of 
1885. When possible, the notes should be accompanied by observations on 
tlie direction of the wind, and general state of the weather at the time. By 
