MAY 22 1897 

 Vol. 11. ] [ No. 5. 



THE ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE OF BIRDS U INDIA. 



By W. L. SCLATER, M.A. 



Birds may be eeonomioally considered in two very different ways : 

 first, from the direct point of view of the economic products of the birds 

 themselves ; secondly, from the indirect point of view of the benefit 

 derived from the destruction of noxious insects by birds, wliich, no doubt, 

 is of very great importance to agriculture. 



It has been argued by certain people interested in agriculture that 

 insectivorous birds, which are so directly important as insect pest des- 

 troyers, should be protected by law, but the question arises as to whether 

 insectivorous birds are destroyed for their direct products in any quimti- 

 ties which would make it worth while to introduce special legislation for 

 their protection. In considering this question, the first thing to do is to 

 find out what birds are destroyed in any large quantities in India. 



There are only two purposes for which this is done^ 



(1) For the sake of their skins or feathers, which are exported in con- 



siderable quantities. 



(2) For eating purposes. 



The following are the principal birds killed for their skins or feathers : 

 Herodias alba, Herodias intermedia, and Herodias garzetta (Egrets), all of 

 which have in the breeding season a dorsal or pectoral train of what are 

 known as decomposed feathers; that is, feathers whose barbs are not 

 connected with one another. These feathers are sold and exported in 

 very large quantities and fetch very high prices. 



Other birds of the Heron family, such as Bnphus coromandus (the 

 Cattle Egret), Ardeola lettcoptera (the Pond Heron), Ardea cinerea (the 

 Blue Heron), all produce feathers which are also sold in large quanti- 

 ties, but not at such high prices as the Egrets proper. 



Anotiier bird whose feathers have a certain market value is the In- 

 dian Snake Bird Plotus melanog aster. The lengthened scapular feathers, 

 which are the only ones sold for export, are also, according to Jerdon, 

 ^'looked on as a badge of royalty by the Khasias, and were once the 

 badge of one of the Bengal regiments of Irregular Cavalry.''^ 



Many of the pheasants are exported in large quantities, more especially 

 the Monaul Lophophorns impeyaiias. The bulk of [the specimens of the 



