THE TRAFFIC IN FEATHERS 



Warblers, Waxwings, Bobolinks, Larks, Orioles, 

 Doves, and Woodpeckers. 



In all, the feathers of at least forty species were 

 discernible. 



In commenting on his trips of inspection, Doctor 

 Chapman wrote: " It is evident that in proportion to 

 the number of hats seen, the list of birds given is 

 very small, for in most cases mutilation rendered 

 identification impossible. Thus, while one after- 

 noon seven hundred hats were counted and on them 

 but twenty birds recognized, five hundred and forty- 

 two were decorated with feathers of some kind. 

 Of the one hundred and fifty-eight remaining, 

 seventy-two were worn by young or middle-aged 

 ladies, and eighty-six by ladies in mourning or elderly 

 ladies." 



This was a period when people seemed to go mad 

 on the subject of wearing birds and feathers. They 

 were used for feminine adornment in almost every 

 conceivable fashion. Here are two quotations from 

 New York daily papers of that time, only the names 

 [147] 



