ith generous crumbs when the snow has
covered all the earth and left him desolate.

C. C. MARBLE.

NATIONAL COUNCIL OF WOMEN.

EXTRACT FROM THE REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON DRESS, BY ITS CHAIRMAN,
MRS. FRANK JOHNSON.

BIRDS, WINGS AND FEATHERS EMPLOYED AS GARNITURE.

From the school-room there should certainly emanate a sentiment which
would discourage forever the slaughter of birds for ornament.

The use of birds and their plumage is as inartistic as it is cruel and
barbarous.

THE HALO.

"One London dealer in birds received, when the fashion was at its
height, a single consignment of thirty-two thousand dead humming birds,
and another received at one time, thirty thousand aquatic birds and
three hundred thousand pairs of wings."

Think what a price to pay,
Faces so bright and gay,
Just for a hat!
Flowers unvisited, mornings unsung,
Sea-ranges bare of the wings that o'erswung--
Bared just for that!

Think of the others, too,
Others and _mothers_, too,
Bright-Eyes in hat!
Hear you no mother-groan floating in air,
Hear you no little moan--birdling's despair--
Somewhere for that?

Caught 'mid some mother-work,
Torn by a hunter Turk,
Just for your hat!
Plenty of mother-heart yet in the world:
All the more wings to tear, carefully twirled!
_Women want_ that?

Oh, but the shame of it,
Oh, but the blame of it,
Price of a hat!
Just for a jauntiness brightening the street!
This is your halo--O faces so sweet--
_Death_, and for that!--W. C. GANNETT.

* * * * *

[Illustration: From col. Chi. Acad. Sciences.
SCREECH OWL.]

THE MOTTLED OR "SCREECH" OWL.

"Night wanderer," as this species of Owl has been appropriately called,
appears to be peculiar to America. They are quite scarce in the south,
but above the Falls of the Ohio they increase in number, and are
numerous in Virginia, Maryland, and all the eastern districts. Its
flight, like that of all the owl family, is smooth and noiseless. He may
be sometimes seen above the topmost branches of the highest trees in
pursuit of large beetles, and at other times he sails low and swiftly
over the fields or through the woods, in search of small birds, field