CAGE-BIKD TBAPFIC OF THE UNITED STATES. 167 



Zoological Gardens. They are regarded with much favor by amateurs 

 and have been repeatedly bred in private aviaries. Mockingbirds 

 were bred in French aviaries before 1873. While ilitolerant of cage 

 mates, they are much valued in Europe for their song, which, how- 

 ever, is there considered inferior to that of the nightingale — a judg- 

 ment partly assisted, perhaps, by patriotic bias and association. 

 Scarlet tanagers and cardinals are ranked very high in Europe, 

 and frequently win prizes in bird shows. Evidence of the esteem as 

 cage-birds in which the latter are held is shown by the fact that they 

 are listed on the price list of a London bird dealer for September, 

 1906, at more than $5 apiece. Of interest in this connection is the 

 statement of Gemelli Careri, quoted by Nuttall in his Manual of 

 Ornithology published in 1832, that "the Spaniards of Havana in a 

 time of public distress and scarcity bought so many of these birds 

 [cardinals], with which a vessel was partlj^ freighted from Florida, 

 that the sum expended at $10 apiece amounted to no less than 

 118,000." Indigo birds and nonpareils ai-e valued for their attractive 

 plumage. Of the latter thousands were annually exported to Europe, 

 where they sold for $1.50 to $2 apiece. 



In consequence of the continual trapping to supply the increasing 

 demand, several of these birds became rare in localities where once 

 they had been common. Nearly every State had a law protecting 

 nongame birds, but such laws were at that time imperfectly framed 

 and ineffective!}^ enforced. The usual exception authorizing the keep- 

 ing of birds in cages as domestic pets was unaccompanied by any 

 restriction on trade, which, in consequence, flourished. Imperfect as 

 these laws were, they were rendered still less effective by the absence 

 of public interest in their observance and adequate provision for their 

 enforcement. Gradually, however, the influence of the bird-protec- 

 tive movement began to make itself felt and the laws were improved. 

 One State after another adopted a model law framed by a committee 

 of the American Ornithologists' Union, which instead of simply pro- 

 hibiting the killing of a few birds specifically named, as had formerly 

 been done, prohibited the killing, capture, or possession of all birds 

 other than game birds and a few injurious species, and interdicted all 

 trade in them. The interest in bird life awakened by the efforts of 

 this organization and the various State Audubon societies caused 

 these laws to be more or less vigorously enforced, and the trade in 

 native Tiirds declined proportionately. Supplies were still obtained, 

 however, from States that had not adopted modern laws, and the 

 export trade to Europe continued brisk. One by one these remain- 

 ing strongholds were carried by the forces of bird protection until 

 finally, in 1904, Louisiana, the only State left from which birds were 

 procurable, adopted the model law, and now, beyond !i few surrepti- 

 tious and illegal shipments, the domestic and foreign trade in native 



