SELB 0 RN 1 ANA . 163 
think that any one worthy of the name of woman would degrade herself by 
wearing ornaments procured in so horrible a manner. 
“ You know those bright red little birds (whole birds) which they put in 
ladies’ hats? They are dyed sparrows(! !) mostly prepared in France. But the 
point is this — that in order to preserve the feathers in the best possible condition 
the birds are killed in the most horridly cruel way. They are put in a cool oven, 
which is gradually heated till they are dead. This was told us by a woman who ' 
sells the birds and hats ! Now, can anything be done first to verify the fact and 
then to make it public, with a view to putting a stop to such terrible cruelty ? ” 
SELBORNIANA. 
Books of Feathers. — Much interest has been shown in Mrs. Brightwen’s 
article on this subject in our last number. So many wishes have been expressed 
to see the books referred to, that Mrs. Brightwen has consented to allow them to 
be exhibited at the Annual Conversazione of the Ealing Natural History Society, 
to be held on the 25th of this month. One of our correspondents, Mr. Edward 
Simpson, suggests that the idea of such books may lead to results far different from 
those intended by its originator : — “Much though Mrs. Brightwen may deprecate 
the slaughter of rare visitors and native birds, all ladies may not be so careful to 
inquire whether the birds were ‘ picked up dead in the garden,’ or ‘ found lying 
on the sea shore.’ They will find it easier to ‘ask no questions for conscience’ 
sake.’” Mr. Simpson is perfectly right to warn us against an evil which may 
possibly arise ; and we would add our strong protest against any such abuse of 
Mrs. Brightwen’s suggestion, which would, we feel sure, cause her the greatest 
pain. But we do not feel as much apprehension on the matter as he does. Only 
those bird lovers who have a considerable amount of skill and knowledge could 
attempt such designs successfully ; and it is not such persons that would be base 
enough to destroy the things they love for the purpose of displaying their know- 
ledge and skill. 
Partly to assuage Mr. Simpson’s fears, and partly for our own gratification, we 
reprint the following paragraph on the subject from the Daily News. We may take 
this opportunity of saying that the Daily Neus (as is incidentally noticed by a cor- 
respondent on another page) is conspicuous among the daily papers for its “ sound- 
ness ” on all matters connected with the love and study of nature, and has always 
given the most valuable aid to the Selborne .Society in its work : — 
“ A lady ornithologist has come forward to tell 11s how she has been accustomed 
to make up * books of feathers ’ somewhat after the fashion in which enthusiasts 
for botany compile a hortus siccus. As her communication is addressed to that 
zealous friend of the animal world, the Selborne Society’s Nature Notes, we 
need hardly say that the practice, as here explained, involves no wanton destruc- 
tion of the birds. Thus, the woodpecker and nuthatch, who contribute feathers 
to the pages of the lady’s album, were picked up dead in her garden. The 
samples from the dove and budgerigars were simply moulted feathers. The birds 
having done with them, the album maker felt at liberty to turn them to her own 
uses. A favourite parrot died, and ever since then a tribute from his wings has 
furnished a welcome memento of an old companion. Birds used for food again 
supply a great variety. Of these are wild ducks, pheasants, partridges, and all 
species of wild fowl. Then the lady picked up a fine white barn owl in a wood 
in Cornwall, a dead sea-gull at Brighton, a guillemot on the beach at Bourne- 
mouth, and, still rarer, a stormy petrel lying near it. Thus was the blank album 
gradually filled with interesting examples of the plumage of British birds, without 
hurt to the conscience of an enthusiastic disciple of Gilbert White. There is 
surely many a worse way to ‘ help waste a sullen day ’ than that of making a 
feather book ’ in accordance with this lady’s practical directions.” 
