CAGE-BIRD TRAFFIC OF THE UNITED STATES. 169 



Africa, and 1 per cent from kSouth America. The remaining 1 per 

 cent were of unknown origin. In addition to these, 2,700 canaries, 

 mostly from Germanj^, and about 6,000 parrots from various tropical 

 countries came in without permit, no permit being issued for these 

 birds when thej^ are unaccompanied by others. 



HDW BIRDS ABE SECDBED. 



A peep behind the scenes is always interesting, and when we see 

 diverse and remote regions of the world pouring their treasures of 

 bird life into our country a desire is awakened to know by what means 

 this is accomplished. 



In some cases the method is as old as the history of maritime com- 

 merce. From the time when vessels began to make voyages to' other 

 countries sailors have brought back trophies of various sorts, includ- 

 ing specimens of the fauna of distant lands. Some birds are still thus 

 brought in and are bought by dealers in the various ports of entry. 



This method, somewhat systematized, prevails at San Francisco, 

 where the trade, temporarily suspended by the earthquake and fire, is 

 now beginning to revive. Supplies are here obtained from the crews 

 of steamers coming from China and Japan, who make a regular business 

 of transporting cage-birds, usually under an arrangement with the 

 steamship companies by which they are employed whereby freight 

 is paid out of the proceeds of sales. The birds thus imported are con- 

 siderable in number, but few in species, being mainly Java sparrows, 

 diamond sparrows, Chinese mockingbirds, and other common kinds. 



But most of the birds imported are secured by more highly organized 

 methods. Several of the leading importers maintain forces of men to 

 secure the desired birds either in their native haunts or in European 

 ports to which they are brought by the agents of other importers. 



Parrots are generally taken while still in the nest. During the nest- 

 ing season the leading American houses send men to Cuba, Mexico, or 

 South America to obtain stock. Headquarters are established by these 

 agents at some point convenient to the parrot country and natives are 

 emplo3'ed to secure the young birds, which are forwarded to the United 

 States in periodical shipments. Agents have sometimes been sent from 

 this country' to Africa to secure supplies of the favorite African 

 gray parrot, but these are usually obtained in European ports from 

 vessels arriving with supplies for the large European houses. 



Small birds, other than canaries, are generally captured with nets. 

 Expert netters continually visit remote regions in the interest of whole- 

 sale houses of Hamburg, London, Liverpool, and other large cities of 

 Europe. Similar expeditions are dispatched from New York and 

 Philadelphia to Cuba and Mexico and occasionally to more distant 

 lands — even India; but the principal American houses maintain con- 

 nections with establishments in Germany, through which their supplies 

 of Old World and South American birds are more commonly procured. 

 4548—07 2 



