REVIEW. 



Aigrettes and Birdskins. The Truth About Their Collection and Export. By 

 Harold Hamel Smith, editor of ''Tropical Life." With a foi eword by Sir 

 J. D. Rees, K. C. I. B., C. V. 0., M. P. Cloth. Pp. 138, Prieo: 5 shillings. 

 London: John Bales Sons & Danielsou, Ltd. 1910. 



This book is written in defense of the bird-millinery trade and in 

 protest against a uotitication issued in India, in 1902, prohibiting the 

 export from British India of the skins and feathers of all birds other 

 than domestic birds, ostrich feathers and skins, and bona fide natural 

 history specimens. 



The objection to this order is that while it does not protect the birds 

 from being killed it takes from the poorer classes in India a considerable 

 source of income. 



The author claims tliat the collecting of feathers of wild birds can 

 not be considered cruel, unless it be considered cruel to shoot game for 

 sport, and that, taking the world as a whole, birds are not in danger of 

 extermination, or even of becoming rare. 



It is stated that, "unlike the milliners who need the birds only for a 

 few years at a time, whilst the fashion for wearing them lasts, the sup- 

 pliers to natural history museums and the fishing-tackle trade go on 

 collecting uninterruptedly year after year, as they have no fashion to 

 interrupt their demand." 



Members of the Audubon societies and other |)rotectionists will be 

 pleased to learn that should any fear of the exteimination of a certain 

 species arise "the trade wisely and very naturally will be only too pleased 

 to collaborate with any official body to keep that particular species out of 

 fashion until their numbers have increased sufficiently to warrant their 

 being used again." 



The extermination of some species of birds, such as the herons in 

 Florida, is charged to the advance of civilization and the opening of new 

 country. The author suggests the appointment of a permanent inter- 

 national committee to be consulted at any time, to inquire into reported 

 scarcity of birds, and to ascertain on independent evidence how correct 

 the reports are. The committee should, if necessary, proceed to the 

 center of origin and ascertain the true state of the case. 



The frontispiece is a half-tone portrait of the author. 



E. C. McG. 

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