Our Vanishing Wild Life Part 22

Snowy Egret Venezuela, S. America, Mexico, etc.

Scarlet Ibis Tropical South America.

"Green" Ibis Species not recognizable by its trade name.

Herons, generally All unprotected regions.

Marabou Stork Africa.

Pelicans, all species All unprotected regions.

Bustard Southern Asia, Africa.

Greater Bird of Paradise New Guinea; Aru Islands.

Lesser Bird of Paradise New Guinea.

Red Bird of Paradise Islands of Waigiou and Batanta.

Twelve-Wired Bird of Paradise New Guinea, Salwatti.

Black Bird of Paradise Northern New Guinea.

Rifle Bird of Paradise New Guinea generally.

Jobi Bird of Paradise Island of Jobi.

King Bird of Paradise New Guinea.

Magnificent Bird of Paradise New Guinea.

Impeyan Pheasant Nepal and India.

Tragopan Pheasant Nepal and India.

Argus Pheasant Malay Peninsula, Borneo.

Silver Pheasant Burma and China.

Golden Pheasant China.

Jungle c.o.c.k East Indies and Burma.

Peac.o.c.k East Indies and India.

Condor South America.

Vultures, generally Where not protected.

Eagles, generally All unprotected regions.

Hawks, generally All unprotected regions.

Crowned Pigeon, two species New Guinea.

"Choncas" Locality unknown.

Pitta East Indies.

Magpie Europe.

Touracou, or Plantain-Eater Africa.

Velvet Birds Locality uncertain.

"Grives" Locality uncertain.

Mannikin South America.

Green Parrot (now protected) India.

"Dominos" (Sooty Tern) Tropical Coasts and Islands.

Garnet Tanager South America.

Grebe All unprotected regions.

Green Merle Locality uncertain.

"Horphang" Locality uncertain.

Rhea South America.

"Sixplet" Locality uncertain.

Starling Europe.

Tetras Locality not determined.

Emerald-Breasted Hummingbird West Indies, Cent, and S. America.

Blue-Throated Hummingbird West Indies, Cent, and S. America.

Amethyst Hummingbird West Indies, Cent, and S. America.

Resplendent Trogon, several species Central America.

c.o.c.k-of-the-Rock South America.

Macaw South America.

Toucan South America.

Emu Australia.

Sun-Bird East Indies.

Owl All unprotected regions.

Kingfisher All unprotected regions.

Jabiru Stork South America.

Albatross All unprotected regions.

Tern, all species All unprotected regions.

Gull, all species All unprotected regions.

In order to throw a spot-light on the most recent transactions in the London wild-birds'-plumage market, and to furnish a clear idea of what is to-day going on in London, Paris, Berlin and Amsterdam, I will set out in some detail the report of an agent whom I engaged to ascertain the London dealings in the plumage of wild birds that were killed especially to furnish that plumage. As one item, let us take the sales in London in February, May and October, 1911, because they bring the subject well down to date. My agent's explanatory note is as follows:

"These three sales represent six months. Very nearly double this quant.i.ty is sold by these four firms in a year. We must also take into consideration that all the feathers are not brought to the London market, and that _very large shipments are also made direct to the raw-feather dealers and manufacturers of Paris and Berlin, and that Amsterdam also gets large quant.i.ties from the West Indies_. For your purpose, I report upon three sales, at different periods of the year 1911, and as those sales do not vary much, you will be able to judge the consumption of birds in a year."

The "aigrettes" of the feather trade come from egrets, and, being very light, it requires the death of several birds to yield one ounce. In many catalogues, the word "albatross" stands for the jabiru, a nearly-exterminated species of giant stork, inhabiting South America.

"Rhea" often stands for vulture plumage.

If the feather dealers had deliberately attempted to form an educational list of the most beautiful and the most interesting birds of the world, they could hardly have done better than they have done in the above list. If it were in my power to show the reader a colored plate of each species now being exterminated by the feather trade, he would be startled by the exhibit. That the very choicest birds of the whole avian world should be thus blotted out at the behest of vain and heartless women is a shame, a disgrace and world-wide loss.

LONDON FEATHER SALE OF FEBRUARY, 1911

_Sold by Hale & Sons Sold by Dalton & Young_ Aigrettes 3,069 ounces Aigrettes 1,606 ounces Herons 960 " Herons 250 "

Birds of Paradise 1,920 skins Paradise 4,330 bodies

_Sold by Figgis & Co. Sold by Lewis & Peat_ Aigrettes 421 ounces Aigrettes 1,250 ounces Herons 103 " Paradise 362 skins Paradise 414 skins Eagles 384 "

Eagles 2,600 " Trogons 206 "

Condors 1,580 " Hummingbirds 24,800 "

Bustards 2,400 "

LONDON FEATHER SALE OF MAY, 1911

_Sold by Hale & Sons Sold by Dalton & Young_ Aigrettes 1,390 ounces Aigrettes 2,921 ounces Herons 178 " Herons 254 "

Paradise 1,686 skins Paradise 5,303 skins Red Ibis 868 " Golden Pheasants 1,000 "

Junglec.o.c.ks 1,550 "

Parrots 1,700 "

Herons 500 "

_Sold by Figgis & Co. Sold by Lewis & Peat_ Aigrettes 201 ounces Aigrettes 590 ounces Herons 248 " Herons 190 "

Paradise 546 skins Paradise 60 skins Falcons, Hawks 1,500 " Trogons 348 "

Hummingbirds 6,250 "

LONDON FEATHER SALE OF OCTOBER, 1911

_Sold by Hale & Sons Sold by Dalton & Young_ Aigrettes 1,020 ounces Aigrettes 5,879 ounces Paradise 2,209 skins Heron 1,608 "

Hummingbirds 10,040 " Paradise 2,850 skins Bustard 28,000 quills Condors 1,500 "