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Conservation Reader 



made? Would you believe it possible that it is formed 

 entirely of humming birds' skins, with the heads and long, 

 slender bills? Perhaps a thousand of the tiny birds were 

 sacrificed that some woman might have a beautiful cape. 

 Does it seem possible that any gentlewoman could wear 

 this cape, who had any realization of the tragedies that had 

 to take place in humming-bird life in order that it might be 

 made? Could she wear this cape if she knew of the for- 

 saken nests and the hundreds of dying yoimg ones waiting 

 for the mothers that never returned? 



But more terrible, if anything, than the story of the hum- 

 ming-bird cape is the story of the dehcate egret plumes on 

 yonder hat. They once adorned the rnother bird at nesting 

 time in some far marsh. The feathers are almost perfect 

 at this time, and to get them the bird must be kiUed. Each 

 bunch of egret feathers represents a family tragedy, — a 



l-!n!iy ^ Bohlman 

 Forster's tern or sea swallow on its nest. The wings and tail of this bird are used 

 for millinery purposes. 



