THE TRAFFIC IN FEATHERS 



where the birds are extensively reared and shot on 

 great game preserves; vast numbers, however, have 

 come from China. Oddly enough in that country 

 the birds were originally little disturbed by the 

 natives, who seem not to care for meat. Then came 

 the demand for feathers, and the birdshave since been 

 killed for this purpose to an appalling extent. 



Numidie. — This popular hat decoration suddenly 

 appeared on our market in great numbers a few years 

 ago. It is taken from the Manchurian Eared Pheas- 

 ant of northern China. Unless the demand for 

 these feathers is overcome in some way there will 

 undoubtedly come a day in the not-distant future 

 when the name of this bird must be added to the 

 lengthening list of species that have been sacrificed to 

 the greed of the shortsightedness of man. 



Goura. — The fashionable and expensive hat decora- 

 tion which passes under the trade name of Goura 

 consists of the slender feathers, usually four or five 

 inches long with a greatly enlarged tip, that grows 

 out fanlike along a line down the centre of the head 

 [157] 



