Page:Bird-lore Vol 08.djvu/222

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180
Bird-Lore

Museum of Natural History, New York City, October 30, 1906. In view of the increased activities now rendered possible by the Association's improved financial status, it is hoped that this meeting will be largely attended.

The Mrs. Bradley Fund

Total subscriptions reported in June Bird-Lore, including May 8, 1906 $1,788 25
Subscriptions including August 28, 1906 55 15
Total $1,843 40

ADDITIONAL SUBSCRIBERS TO FUND

Anonymous $1 00
Arnold, Dr. W. W 1 00
Bachman, Mrs. T. J 2 00
Dunham, Master Arthur Louis 5 00
Illinois Audubon Society (Alton Branch) 30 00
Kittredge, S. D. 1 00
Latham, Mrs. C. F 1 00
Lovett, Miss Charlotte B 2 00
Matthews, Grace F 1 00
Natural Science Club, Brooklyn, N. Y. 2 00
Putnam, G. H. 5 15
Surface, Miss Beatrice Josephine 1 00
Surface, Harley Bleasdaie 1 00
Surface, Violet Mae 1 00
Wallace, A. L. 1 00 55 15

Notes and News

Plume Sales.[1]—"The usual feather sales were held at the London Commercial Sale-rooms on April 11 and June 12, 1906. A feature of the earlier sale was the great


number of Tern's wings (10,000), of Kingfishers (15,000), and of Albatross and Bustard quills. There were 260 packages of Osprey (Aigrette) feathers, 7,188 Birds-of-Paradise, and a large supply of Crested-Pigeons. On June 12 there were offered 289 packages of Osprey (Aigrette) feathers and 11,841 Birds-of-Paradise, together with 72 Impeyan Pheasants, 2, 514 pairsof Ptarmigan wings, and a more than ordinary number of Crested-Pigeons and of 'Vulture' (Rhea) feathers."

The above sale represents the death of many thousand of interesting and valuable birds, and, in the case of the Birds-of-Paradise, a species that is fast nearing extinction. It shows conclusively that education and pleading have but little effect on those who selfishly desire to sell for profit, and those who buy for personal adornment. The only way to stop such an unholy traffic, in the lives of these beautiful and innocent creatures, is to have enacted international laws, prohibiting the possession and sale of the feathers of all wild birds. It is now time for the Foreign Societies for the protection of wild birds to join with the American Society (National Association of Audubon Societies), in an attempt to secure an international agreement to prohibit possession, sale, export and import of the feathers of all wild birds.—W. D.

The Virginia Creeper as a Winter Food for Birds.—In the July 'Auk' an interesting and valuable article is published on this subject. The concluding paragraph is a suggestive hint to all bird-lovers or land-owners. "The plant retains its fruit almost half the year and is therefore particularly valuable as an early spring bird food. To those who care to attract winter birds, the Virginia creeper, both from its usefulness in this respect and on account of its appearance, is to be recommended most highly."—W. D.

  1. Reprinted from 'Bird Notes and News'. Vol. II. No. 2, 1906. Organ of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, London, England.