/. /. QUELCH. 129 



The law deals with the killing of birds for purposes of 

 trade. It cannot brand as illegal the wearing of feathers 

 for purposes of ornament. The brilliant feathers of many 

 food birds are just as available, logically, for purposes of 

 ornament as any other kind of suitable material. It could 

 not be termed cruel or inhuman, unless the feathers worn 

 were obtained from birds killed for the express purpose. 

 The obtaining and wearing of sealskins, furs of sable, 

 ermine, otters, etc., is just as heartless and as cruel, though 

 the offenders in these cases, in pointing the finger of reproof 

 at the poor feather-wearers, seem to be quite oblivious of 

 the fact of their own encouragement of equal cruelty and 

 inhumanity. 

 9 



