TO 



THE HUMMING BIRD. 



[February i, 1891 



twice a day the owner comes to have a look at them, 

 and very often finds a bird caught to each. 



They catch a good many in that way and sell them 

 at a very good price, these birds being very well 

 appreciated by the inhabitants. 



I had occasion to taste some, and I declare they 

 were excellent eating. 



As I said before, since a few years, the catching of 

 these birds is done largely, and what can it matter if 

 the people of that country eat them, with or without 

 the skin, which is spared for the Plumassiers Trade. I 

 don't see why it should not be done. I prefer many 

 times that birds should be caught, skinned, and the 

 feathers used for ornamental purposes, than to see 

 people breeding purposely Partridges, Pheasants, and 

 other Ga?ne Birds for the replacing of those 

 slaughtered at fixed dates by the Owners of Hunting 

 Grounds and their friends. 



But for the sake of the sport enjoyed in these 

 hunting parties, which I consider beneficial to health, 

 I don't see why they should be objected to, and the 

 same I think about the birds killed for food and their 

 feathers. I cannot see what serious objections could 

 be made against the use of different species of birds 

 for ornament. 



Now I will conclude this Notice with a few remarks 

 worthy of the attention of all. It is that twenty-five 

 years back, Ostrich, Paddy, Vulture and Osprey 

 feathers, Paradise Birds and a few others were the 

 ones employed by the Plumassiers since immemorial 

 times, and it has always been very fashionable to 

 make use of the ornaments made with the feathers of 

 these birds ; but their use was very limited and very 

 expensive. For the same reason this trade was pro- 

 gressing but very slowly, and occupied a very limited 

 number of hands ; but since 1865, it is extraordinary 

 'o see the progress made in that direction. 



Actually in Europe only, over 200,000 persons have 

 found an honourable and lucrative occupation in the 

 feather trade, and millions of pounds sterling are 

 spent annually, either in the purchase of bird-skins, 

 or in the payment of persons employed in this 

 trade. 



I know many firms who occupy hundreds of men 

 and women in the manufacture of fancy feathers, 

 ornaments and attires of all descriptions, feather hats, 

 and in the mounting of birds. 



This year, in consequence of the move which took 

 place against the wearing of mounted birds on hats 

 and otherwise, a great many of these unfortunate 

 people have not found work, and are suffering greatly 

 from it, and when we consider that we have had a 

 winter unequalled before for its severity and length, 

 you can imagine what harm has been done to these 

 interesting people by raising a war cry against the 

 wearing of bird skins, Feathers, etc. . 



No doubt it shows how good-hearted are the per- 

 sons, who, for sympathy for the poor little birds, have 

 agreed in not wearing any of them in future, and 

 myself I would do the same if I thought I was doing 

 a real good to the poor things in taking such a 

 resolution, but as I said before, it is quite a mis- 

 take, and I feel much more interested in the well- 

 being of two hundred thousand of my fellow- 

 creatures, of whom I know many in particular, and 



which are deserving the greatest interest for their 

 industry and probity, than for the birds, and I hope 

 that this notice will not have been written in vain. 



A. Boucard. 



SCIENCE AND ART. 



The Panama Canal. 



By A. Boucard. 



In the preceding number I did not mention the 

 gift of five thousand millions square yards of land, 

 made by the Republic of Columbia to the Company 

 of the Panama Canal. 



Half of this land is, or ought to be, already in the 

 hands of the Company, the other half to be delivered 

 at the termination of the Canal. 



This land is very fertile, and particularly suitable 

 for Plantains, Cacao, Coffee, Tobacco, Indigo, Cotton, 

 Maize, and Sugar-Cane plantations, whose products 

 can always be sold with a great profit, and I have not 

 the least doubt that the Company which will under- 

 take the termination of the Canal will be able to 

 make some very large profits with it, either by selling 

 or by cultivating a portion of same. 



In my opinion, a new Company ought to take the 

 same interest in putting this land in cultivation as in 

 the termination of the Canal, as I am certain that if 

 the two works are carried on together, the greatest 

 revenue will come out from the products of the land 

 and will be the means to pay a very good dividend to 

 the new Shareholders and Bondholders. 



Besides, it will be the means of saving life by pro- 

 curing for the workmen all sorts of vegetables and 

 fruits at moderate prices, which is not so at present. 

 It will have also a great effect on the climate, and 

 will make it healthier. 



The Company would also buy several thousand 

 heads of cattle and horses, which are sure to thrive 

 well in the plains which surround Panama, and by 

 that means will be able to supply good food to the 

 workers and make a large profit, even selling at a 

 lower price than the present one ; fresh meat being 

 scarce and dear, although it costs nearly nothing to 

 breed and to fatten. 



As my experience goes in selling cattle at £2 each, 

 it leaves a very good profit ; but of course they could 

 sell better, the actual price being from £6 to £8 

 each. 



I consider all what I have just said of such im- 

 portance, that if I had the direction of the works, I 

 should begin by putting in cultivation the lands and 

 buying cattle immediately after the formation of the 

 new Company. 



It has been calculated by the late Rossignon, a 

 friend of mine, that in two years a revenue of eight 

 million pounds sterling could be made if only one 

 quarter of the property was properly planted with 

 Sugar-canes, Plantains, Coffee, Cacao, and Tobacco. 



All the products of these plantations would find 



