EDITORIAL GLEANINGS. 399 



in the year ending June 30th, 1906 — an increase of 37 per cent, in 

 four years. At the beginning of this period the model bird -protective 

 law previously mentioned had been adopted by sixteen States ; at its 

 close it was in force in thirty-five. 



" Of the birds imported in the year ending June 30th, 1906, 

 274,914 were Canaries and 47,383 miscellaneous birds. The Canaries 

 were nearly all raised in Germany. Thirty-three per cent, of the 

 miscellaneous birds were from the Orient, 30 per cent, from Europe, 

 22 per cent, from Australia, 7 per cent, from Cuba and Mexico, 6 per 

 cent, from Africa, and 1 per cent, from South America. The remain- 

 ing 1 per cent, were of unknown origin. In addition to these 2700 

 Canaries, mostly from Germany, and about 6000 Parrots from various 

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

 these birds when they are unaccompanied by others. 



" How Birds are Secured. — 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 awak- 

 ened to know by what means this is accomplished. 



"In some cases the method is as old as the history of maritime 

 commerce. From the time when vessels began to make voyages 

 to other countries sailors have brought back trophies of various sorts, 

 including 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 considerable in number, but few in species, being mainly Java 

 Sparrows, Diamond Sparrows, Chinese Mocking-birds, 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 

 nesting season the leading American houses send men to Cuba, Mexico, 



