The White Egrets 65 



comers. It is customary to wait until the eggs are hatched, for then the old 

 birds, responding to the cries of their young, are loathe to leave the neighbor- 

 hood, and readily fall a prey to the gunners. The millinery dealers, in their 

 efforts to defend this nefarious traffic, seek to mislead the public by the state- 

 ments to the effect that aigrettes are gathered from the ground underneath the 

 nests. Every ornithologist, or other person, who has had experience with 

 Heron rookeries, knows the falsity of this statement. At least twenty well- 

 known naturalists have filed affidavits to this effect with the officers of the 

 ^National Association of Audubon Societies. 



The following are abstracts from some of the sworn statements furnished 

 by men, many of whose names are well known to the reading public. Read 

 these and tell your friends of the atrocities of the aigrette traffic. 



(From Affidavit of Prof. P. M. Rea, Charleston, S. C.) 



"After practical observation of the breeding of Snowy Herons and American 

 Egrets on the coast islands and swamps of South Carohna, and on the basis 

 of experience with the work of plume-hunters, as well as from my knowledge 

 of the growth of the plumage in these birds, I desire to state most emphatically 

 that the plumes which are used for millinery purposes are worn by the birds 

 only during the breeding season, and when cast naturally are of practically 

 no commercial value." 



(From Affidavit of Arthur T. Wayne, Mount Pleasant, S. C.) 



"It is utterly impossible to get fifty egret plumes from any colony of breed- 

 ing birds without shooting the birds. Last spring, I went twice a week to a 

 breeding colony of American and Snowy Egrets, from early in April until 

 June 8. Despite the fact that I covered miles of territory in a boat, I picked 

 up but two American Egret plumes (which I now have) ; but not a single 

 Snowy Egret plume did I see, nor did my companion, who accompanied me 

 on every trip. 



"I saw an American Egret plume on the water, and left it, purposely, to 

 see whether it would sink or not. Upon visiting the place a few days after- 

 wards, the plume was not in evidence, undoubtedly having sunk. The plumes 

 are chiefly shed in the air while the birds are going to or coming from their 

 breeding-grounds . 



"If that millinery plume law is repealed, the fate of the American and 

 Snowy Egrets is sealed, for the few birds that remain will be shot to the very 

 last one." 



(From Affidavit of T. J. Ashe, Key West, Fla.) 



"I have seen many molted and dropped feathers from wild plumed birds. 



I have never seen a molted or dropped feather that was fit for anything. 



"It is the exception when a plumed bird drops feathers of any value while 



