EDITORIAL GLEANINGS. 397 



Mocking-birds, Bluebirds, Cardinals, Tanagers, Indigo-birds, and Non- 

 pareils were caught in large numbers, and sold either here or abroad, 

 and more or less trade in other species prevailed. Bluebirds, which 

 are known as Blue Robins or Blue Nightingales in England and 

 France, were imported into England some time before 1869, as in that 

 year they were first bred in the London Zoological Gardens. They 

 are regarded with much favour by amateurs, and have been repeatedly 

 bred in private aviaries. Mocking-birds were bred in French aviaries 

 before 1873. While intolerant of cage mates, they are much valued in 

 Europe for their song, which, however, is there considered inferior to 

 that of the Nightingale — a judgment 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 partly freighted from 

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

 $18,000.' Indigo-birds and Nonpareils are 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 non- 

 game birds, but such laws were at that time imperfectly framed and 

 ineffectively enforced. The usual exception authorizing the keeping 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 enforce- 

 ment. Gradually, however, the influence of the bird-protective move- 

 ment 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 prohibiting 

 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 bv the efforts of this 



