7 
and song from their fields and gardens. He had lived in the 
primeval forests alone with his dog for weeks together, and could 
testify to the sense of happiness and rest enjoyed when far from 
the haunts of men and surrounded only by Nature. Sometimes he 
had known the wild birds become so tame as to approach quite 
close and even take food out of his hand. With regard to egret 
plumes, the amount sold had not greatly decreased, but the dealers 
said that these large quantities were purchased for France and not 
for England. Thirty years ago he was in the Gulf of Mexico, 
where the egrets breed; and then these birds existed in such 
numbers as to appear like a cloud rising from their breeding 
haunts, but from information received from a friend who visited 
the same islands last year, he did not believe you could now get 
more than half a dozen pairs where once there would be as many as 
two thousand to three thousand pairs per island. He sincerely 
trusted that these beautiful members of the feathered tribe would 
not be allowed to become extinct, but that the ladies present would 
do everything in their power to dissuade their friends from buying 
egret plumes. 
Mr. Wetenhall, J.P. seconded the motion. He thought it 
must be evident to each and all how pure and elevating was the 
influence of birds upon our daily life. He himself was old enough to 
remember when it was scarcely possible to see anything in London 
gardens and parks but the common sparrow, the reason, no doubt, 
being that other species were trapped in the Home Counties long 
before they got to the metropolis itself. He believed the Society’s 
efforts in the elementary schools were having a good effect, and 
that the boys in our public schools were taking a greater and a 
deeper interest in birds. He recommended the circulation of the 
Society’s literature, especially of illustrated tracts, among school 
children in order that this interest might be backed up and 
encouraged, because it was from the rising generation that we 
hoped and expected the furtherance of our principles. 
The motion was carried amid applause. 
The Chairman, in acknowledging the compliment, stated that 
the Foreign Office had just issued an Order that steps be taken to 
check the destruction of wild life in East Africa, where there was a 
danger of the extinction of certain species of animals and birds ; 
and that on the initiative of the Government an International 
Conference would be held this Spring with the object of securing 
the preservation of wild life in that region. 
Copies of this Paper may be obtained from the Honorary 
Secretary of the Society, 3, Hanover Square, W. 
Witherby & Co., Printers, 326, High Holborn, London, W.C. 
