Pheasants have been much in
demand by the millinery trade during the past ten years. Although
several species contribute to the supply, the majority are from the
Chinese Pheasant, or a similar hybrid descendent known as the English
Ring-necked Pheasant. Many of these feathers have been collected in
Europe, {157} where the birds are extensively reared and shot on great
game preserves; vast numbers, however, have come from China. Oddly
enough in that country the birds were originally little disturbed by
the natives, who seem not to care for meat. Then came the demand for
feathers, and the birds have since been killed for this purpose to an
appalling extent.

_Numidie._--This popular hat decoration suddenly appeared on our market
in great numbers a few years ago. It is taken from the Manchurian
Eared Pheasant of northern China. Unless the demand for these feathers
is overcome in some way there will undoubtedly come a day in the
not-distant future when the name of this bird must be added to the
lengthening list of species that have been sacrificed to the greed of
the shortsightedness of man.

_Goura._--The fashionable and expensive hat decoration which passes
under the trade name of Goura consists of the slender feathers, usually
four or five inches long with a greatly enlarged tip, that grows out
fanlike along a line down the centre of the head {158} and nape of
certain large Ground Pigeons that inhabit New Guinea and adjacent
islands. Perhaps the best-known species is the Crowned Pigeon.

There is a special trade name for the feathers of almost every kind of
bird known in the millinery business. Thus there is Coque for Black
Cock, Cross Aigrettes for the little plumes of the Snowy Egret, and
Eagle Quills from the wings not only of Eagles, but of Bustards,
Pelicans, Albatrosses, Bush Turkeys, and even Turkey Buzzards. The
feathers of Macaws in great numbers are used in the feather trade, as
well as hundreds of thousands of Hummingbirds, and other
bright-coloured birds of the tropics.

[Illustration: Crowned Pigeon That Furnishes the Goura of the Feather
Trade]

_Women's Love for Feathers._--One of the most coveted and easily
acquired feminine adornments has been feathers. At first these were
probably taken almost wholly from birds killed for food, but later,
when civilization became more complex and resourceful, millinery
dealers searched the ends of the earth to supply the demands of
discriminating women.