THE PLUMAGE TRADE.
[TO THE EDITOR OP TEE " SPECTATOR."] 8114—By your agency the campaign for ending the infamy of the plumage trade has taken large strides during the last few weeks, and I hope you will permit me to address your readers once more upon the subject. I have very ill; news of further carnage upon the birds now that the restrictions upon the importation of feathers have been removed by the Board of Trade. The horror cannot continue much longer, and we have to ask ourselves at this very time whether what men of science call the work of evolution and men of faith the work of God (they are the same thing) shall be smashed to pieces in our generation, never to be built up again. Once thie orime is consummated., and the slow but miraculously beautiful labour of countless ages ended in blood, there will be nothing for man to say or do, and his silence will match the silence-of the world. Let us then speak and do while there is yet time, and send our feather merchants and " manufacturere " about a less bloodstained business!
To that end a group calling itself the " Plumage Bill Group " has been recently formed., with branches in Scotland and the Provinces, which, while pursuing an independent policy, will oordially consult and co-operate with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, which has toiled for so many years to end the traffic. Donations will be very gladly received by Lieutenant-Colonel Swinburne, of 25 Eaton Place, S.W. 1, and all suggestions for help should be addressed to Mr. Willoughby Dewar, of 8 Kenilworth Court, S.W. 15, who will bring them up before the Committee. Sir Charles Hobhouse is the President. A strong drive all together and our battle is won.—I am, Sir, &e., H. J. MASSINGHAII.
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