Plume 
Birds. 
Plume 
Trade. 
‘ ‘ Artificial 
Ospreys.” 
TO 
of the United States of America. Those on migration from 
central and northern Europe are netted and shot wholesale on 
the Italian coast when they drop down for shelter at night; and 
there can be no doubt that those on passage to and from the North 
are taken by nets in the same way, in the countries through 
which they pass. At what exact spot or spots, it is asked, does 
this slaughter of British migrants take place ? By whom is it 
carried on ? And to whom are the skins consigned ? The 
Society has been in communication with ornithologists, and 
with animal protection societies in France, Germany, Italy, 
Switzerland, and Spain; and also obtained the services of an 
English friend of the cause, to institute enquiries locally. The 
difficulty of obtaining precise information is very great, and 
it is probably unobtainable without arduous investigation by a 
special commissioner. This would not be an easy task, and 
would entail considerable expense ; but if it should result in the 
discovery of facts which might be laid before the legislatures 
of the countries concerned, and thus bring about international 
protection for one of the most useful and beloved of our birds, 
the outlay would be well repaid. 
The Society is in correspondence with authorities in other 
and distant regions with a view to the protection of various 
plume-bearing birds that are in danger of extermination or of 
serious diminution, and an appeal has been made to the Rajah 
of Sarawak to have the birds in his dominions protected by law. 
With regard to the plume-trade in general little fresh can 
be said. There has not been perhaps so great a display as in some 
seasons of stuffed birds in hats, but paradise plumes continue 
to be much used, and “ ospreys ” are still a common adornment. 
The Audubon Societies’ magazine, Bird Lore, reported in June 
the practical extirpation of herons in Florida, where the plume 
hunters worked most determinedly. The only rookery heard of 
had been “ shot out,” and this, adds the writer (Mr. Frank M. 
Chapman) 
“ Is the certain fate of every rookery of aigrette-bearing herons, 
unless an armed warden be detailed to guard it day and night. No 
law will ever prevent robbery, if the temptation to thieve be 
sufficiently great; and with herons’ plumes worth twice their weight 
in gold, there are hundreds of ex-plumers waiting to loot any rookery 
which becomes large enough to make the returns worth the risk of 
prosecution.” 
The false statement as to the existence and use of <£ artificial 
ospreys ” has been repeated times without number. It is also 
said that the Society in discountenancing the use of plumes is 
depriving poor women in London aud Paris of work and 
