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trimmings and decorations alone. The majority of these are 
killed during the breeding season, as it is then that the plumage 
is finest and of the highest commercial value. To kill during 
the breeding season means the death by starvation of helpless 
nestlings, so that here the question of cruelty as well as that 
of the speedy e.xtermination of species comes in. Lord Lilford 
once said to me, in referring to a Spanish proverb. Surely the 
cause of the birds must be safe — ‘ entre les mains blanches.’ 
Alas ! that it should not be so, and that we have to confess that 
women are most difficult to convince of the evil being wrought in 
their name and for them. 
“ There is one kind of feather ornament which is quite 
innocent. The beautiful feathers of the ostrich may be obtained 
without any suffering or distress to the bird, and without any 
destruction of life. On properly conducted ostrich farms at the 
Cape, and in other parts of the world, every care is taken of the 
birds ; food and all other comforts being provided for them. 
Just before the moult the birds are collected into a large 
enclosure : one by one they are driven down a narrow passage, 
at the end of which they are deftly seized and held by two men, 
while a third quickly clips off the feathers, many of the ripe ones 
coming out at a touch. The process is over in a few minutes, 
and the bird — none the worse —is again free to roam at will. 
“ It is a relief to know that we may wear our ostrich feathers, 
and use our down pillows and quilts with easy consciences ; but 
how can tender-hearted women wear, as ornament, anything 
that is obtainable only at the cost of unspeakable suffering, and 
of the wholesale slaughter of our pretty feathered friends ; and 
how can I possibly convey to you the cost at which the fashion 
of feathers and wings has been and is being complied with ? 
“ Hear what Mr. Howard Saunders, an eminently scientific 
man, says of gulls and seabirds : 
“ ‘ These birds have been slaughtered under circumstances of 
horrible barbarity, to provide adornments for ladies’ hats. I 
have watched, day after day, a flotilla of boats procuring plumes 
for the market ; one gang of men shooting, and changing their 
guns when too hot ; another set picking up the birds, and often 
cutting their wings off and flinging their victims into the sea, to 
struggle with feet and head until death slowly came to their 
relief ; and I have seen the cliffs absolutely ‘ spotted ’ with the 
fledglings which have died of starvation, owing to the destruction 
of their parents. And it may be accounted unto me for righteous- 
ness that, in my indignation, I hove down rocks whenever such 
an act would interfere with the shooters.’ 
“ Mr. Thomas Southwell, a well-known ornithologist, said last 
year, when writing of those lovely and graceful creatures, the 
terns, or sea swallows : 
“ ‘ It is these delicate and beautiful birds which are most in 
request — of course in their breeding plumage — to supply the 
‘ smashed birds ’ and groups of wings which, notwithstanding 
