1 66 
NATURE NOTES 
are killed for food. The protest would lead one to believe that 
the Indian Government has simply ‘prohibited the export of 
birds’ skins and plumage for millinery purposes ’ only. This is 
not the case. The prohibition covers all feathers, except ostrich 
feathers (which do not come from India) and bona-fide natural 
history specimens. Such items, for instance, as wild duck 
feathers suitable for bedding could not legally be exported. 
From my knowledge of the Selborne Society 1 am sure the 
bulk of its members are free from all sentimental and impractical 
prejudices, and that they certainly would not object to have 
their attention directed to both sides of the question. My 
reception at the conversazione confirms me in this opinion, 
especially in the conclusion that the Council would always take 
an independent course of its own, uninfluenced by the views of 
any other body. 
“ In exhibiting the birds I must own I did not give the 
Selborne Society the credit of having the influence to modify 
the order in Council of the Viceroy of India in any way, and 
all that I hoped to do w r as to show by means of an object-lesson 
the mistake that had been made in refusing to allow the skins 
of such birds as parrots to be exported, since being a pest, they 
are still being killed the same as sparrows in England ; but the 
skins and feathers can now only be thrown away, and though 
to us the one or two ‘ pies ’ the skin is worth would seem 
ridiculous (twelve pies being only equal to an anna = one penny), 
to starving India it is worth running after. 1 was particularly 
careful not to show' egrets, paddy birds, argus or impeyan 
pheasants, &c., whose destruction might be considered unneces- 
sary. One of our Indian friends whites : ‘ Although the Indian 
Government has stopped the export of bird skins, it still con- 
tinues the outrage of killing the milk-giving cows, which is 
greater than killing birds. In these days rajas, nawabs, and 
many English and natives come from distant countries to Pun- 
jaub and other provinces to hunt birds of all sorts, but the 
most of the population of India w’ho depended on it now cannot 
do it.’ 
“ In conclusion, I would ask why has this protest appeared so 
late in the day, two months after the conversazione ? Was 
this protest lodged at an early date with the Council, and has 
it only now been allowed to be published ; or, as is more probable, 
is it that I am being used as a stalking horse to attack the 
Council ? If so, I must protest against the unfair use Mr. Martin 
makes of my harmless exhibit.” 
