FOR FEATHERS AND FASHION.

Dunstan Times, Issue 679, 23 April 1875, Page 4

FOR FEATHERS AND FASHION.

(Graphic. ) The eloquent plea for humming-birds sot forth in a recent letter to the Times by the Baroness Burdett Coutts, will, it is to be hoped, meet with the attention it deserves. Formerly, the humming-bird was only to bo seen occasionally in the cabinets’ of taxidermists, stuffed and posed under a glass case, and it is onlyJ,'within*' the "last few years that it has become fashionable as a decoration. When once a bird or an animal becomes popular .as a part of female'j'&ttire, it becomes necessary to look after its fpro. tection. The rage for jackets, coats, hats, cuffs, purses, and trimmings of sealskin has well nigh exterminated the seal. It makes us tremble to think what will eventually become of the otter and the beaver. The fashion for garments of sealskin has lasted so long, that it presses particularly hard upon thosebright-eyed little creatures which daily perish at the shrine of feminine caprice. If we could only insure a constant change of fashion, wo might give those •creatures which sacrifice their sleek coats and bright plumage on the altar of beauty, a chance to recover themselves. But no, it is the old story of the goose with the golden eggs, and if we do not take care, we shall discover that we have well'nigh exterminated, by our rapacity, some of the most popular of our birds and animals. In the letter above'alluded to, it says with regard to humming-birds, that “ 40,000 of these minute and beautiful creatures had been consigned to one house alone, and as the area in which they live is resti icted, the result must be extinction,” and it furthermore mentions that'a petition has been forwarded to the Empress of Brazil, requesting her to secure a close time for her small and brillianfsubjects. Indeed, we require a close time for many of what may be called the “ creatures of costume.” If the Wheel of Fashion were to rotate more rapidly and not pause so long, as it often does, in one place, this desideratum would be achieved. There are many of our native birds every day becoming rarer, on account of the 'ruthless fway in which they are Slaughtered forjlahes’ hats,'and the decoration of dresses. Let us hope that the loaders of fashion Cwill shortly decree a change, and that in the place of of fur and feathers we shall find that velvet, ribbons, lace, and ’ embroidery 'will become popular. Not only would it make a pleasant change, but it would givejtime'for .the “ creatures of costume ”to recover themselves, and would benefit in no small degree the industry and manufactures of our own country.