152 



Bird- Lore 



hotel-keepers and a few sportsmen from 

 Long Island, who, without regard to the 

 fact that it is morally, scientifically and 

 economically wrong to kill a bird, be it 

 game-bird or other, while it is on the north- 

 ward migration to its breeding grounds, de- 

 mand the repeal of the law without regard 

 to the wishes of the citizens of the balance 

 of the state. The advocates of repeal say 

 that Ducks were never so numerous on the 

 Long Island waters as they are at the pres- 

 ent time; but they refuse to acknowledge, 

 what is an indisputable fact, that the in- 

 crease is due to the stopping of spring shoot- 

 ing in man)' parts of the United States and 

 the Canadian provinces. 



At the last election, the repeal of the 

 Duck law became a political issue on Long 

 Island. The question is not a political one, 

 but an economic one, and is, whether the 

 remainder of the wild Ducks shall be con- 

 served or shall be recklessly slaughtered in 

 the spring simply because a few interested 

 persons wish a special privilege given them 

 at the expense of the balance of the state. 

 The law in question was enacted in 1903, 

 was successfully defended from repeal in 

 1904, and the Audubon Society is putting 

 forth its greatest strength to defend it again. 



The society is also working for ihe Arm- 

 strong Bill, which aims to prevent unnatu- 

 ralized persons from carrying firearms. 

 Should this become a law, — it has passed 

 both Houses, — it will save the lives ot thou- 

 sands of song-birds in the state. The un- 

 educated foreign laboring element, es- 

 pecially if from the south of Europe, knows 

 no law and regards everything with feathers 

 or fur as legitimate prey for the kettle. 



The aigrette question is one of the most 

 important now before all the Audubon 

 Societies. The use of these plumes seems 

 to be increasing rather than otherwise, not- 

 withstanding the milliners' agreement that 

 their sale should cease January i, 1904. 

 The Millinery Merchants' Association is 

 disbanded, largely owing to the question of 

 the sale of aigrettes, and therefore the Au- 

 dubon Societies are relieved from am' obli- 

 gation regarding laws that were entered 

 into under the terms of the agreement. 



In view of this fact, the New York: 

 Society has had introduced in the legisla- 

 ture, through the courtesy of Senator Arm- 

 strong, the following amendment to Sectioit 

 No. 33 of the present law. 



"Feathers or plumage commonly known 

 as aigrettes, or the feathers or plumage of 

 any species of the Heron family, whether 

 obtained within or without the state, shall 

 not be bought, sold, offered or exposed for 

 sale at any time." If this passes, it will 

 materially reduce the sale of aigrettes. 

 Many of the retail dealers will be glad of 

 an excuse for not keeping these plumes for 

 sale, as they are compelled to do now be- 

 cause competing stores sell them. The few 

 wholesale dealers who control the trade in 

 aigrettes, and are actively opposing the bill, 

 claim that all of the plumes now offered for 

 sale are imported and are taken from Old 

 World or South American Herons. This 

 is not a fact, for the National Association 

 has positive evidence, in the shape of letters- 

 and circulars, showing that there is a con- 

 traband trade in these plumes going on in 

 this country. To save the remnant of 

 White Herons yet remaining in the United 

 States, it is necessary to stop the sale 

 of aigrettes in this country. It is ab- 

 solutely impossible to distinguish the 

 plumes of an American White Heron from 

 those taken from an African or Asiatic 

 bird. Dr. Richmond, of the Smithsonian 

 Institution, an ornithologist of international 

 reputation, states that he has been unable to 

 distinguish them even with the aid of a 

 magnifying glass. Under these circum- 

 stances, the only possible way to save our 

 own birds is to prevent the sale of all ai- 

 grettes. The New York public who are 

 interested in this important matter can ma- 

 terially aid in the passage of the Aigrette Bill 

 (Senate No. no), now before the Legislature, 

 by writing to their senators and assembly- 

 men urging favorable consideration for the 

 bill. 



Space will not permit presenting other 

 'Notes and News ' of great interest, which 

 will have to be deferred until the next issue. 

 William Dutcher. 



