t is impossible to gather at
the nesting places of these birds any quantity of their plumes. I
have nesting within 50 yards of where I am now sitting dictating
this letter not less than 20,000 pairs of the various species of
herons and egrets, and there are fully 2,500 pairs of snowy herons
nesting within my preserve.

During the nesting season, which covers the months of April, May and
June, I am through this heronry in a small canoe almost every day,
and often twice a day. I have had these herons under my close
inspection for the past 17 years, and I have not in any one season
picked up or seen more than half a dozen discarded plumes. Such
plumes as I have picked up, I have kept on my desk, and given to the
people who were interested. I remember that last year I picked up
four plumes of the snowy heron that were in one bunch. I think these
must have been plucked out by the birds fighting.

This year I have found only one plume so far. I enclose it herewith.
You will notice that it is one of the shorter plumes, and is badly
worn at the end, as have been all the plumes which I have picked up
in my heronry.

I am positive that it is not possible for natural shed plumes to be
gathered commercially. I have a number of times talked with plume
hunters from Venezuela and other South American countries, and I
have never heard of any egret feathers being gathered by their being
picked up after the birds have shed them.

I have heard of a number of heronries in South America that are
protected by the land owners for the purpose of gathering a yearly
crop of egret plumes, but this crop is gathered always by shooting a
certain percentage of the birds. This shooting is done by experts
with 22-calibre rifles, and does not materially disturb the nesting
colony. I have known of two men who have been engaged in killing the
birds on large estates in South America, who were paid regular
salaries for their services as egret hunters.

Very truly yours,

E.A. McIlhenny.

I am more than willing to set the above against the fairy tale of Mr.
Laglaize.

Here is the testimony of A.H. Meyer, an ex-plume-hunter, who for nine
years worked in Venezuela. His sworn testimony was laid before the
Legislature of the State of New York, in 1911, when the New York
Milliners' Association was frantically endeavoring to secure the repeal
of the splendid Dutcher law. This witness was