FRANCE AWARDS A MEDAL FOR BIRD 

 PROTECTION 



By Madison Grant, in the Zoological Society Bulletin. 



AN event of recent occurrence in France is of unusual 

 interest to American protectors of birds. On March 

 28, 1914, there was bestowed upon Dr. W. T. Hornaday, 

 at Paris, a medal for international work in the preservation 

 of birds. In view of the numerous enemies that the pro- 

 tection work of Dr. Hornaday has made for him, both at 

 home and abroad, the action of the two affiliated French 

 societies forms an agreeable counterpoise. 



As given by the Secretary of the French National 

 League for the Protection of Birds, the title of the medal is 

 "Grande Medaille Hors Classe," bearing the effigy of 

 Isidore Geoff roy St. Hilaire. It was awarded jointly by 

 the National Acclimatation Society, which is really the lead- 

 ing Zoological Society of France, and the affiliated French 

 National League for the Protection of Birds, "for interna- 

 tional work in the protection of birds." Of course this 

 "international work" relates to the enactment of our law 

 for the suppression of feather millinery in this country. 



In awarding this medal, the two national societies named 

 have taken a bold stand against the feather trade of France 

 and the world at large. Before the award was decided 

 upon, the two societies named were approached by the 

 feather dealers, and requested to form a "Committee for 

 the Economic Study of Birds," similar to that which was 

 formed in England by the feather trade. 



After fully considering the facts and arguments that 

 were presented, the joint Council of the two societies re- 



