The Indianapolis Journal

SLAIN FOR FASHION'S SAKE.
The Way Little Californians Bring Down the Lovely Humming-Birds.
Santa Barbara Press.

During the last two or three years, or since fickle-minded fashion has decreed that birds, as well as feathers, should be used to ornament the heads of the elite of feminine society, a new source of revenue has been opened to the natives of southern California. Santa Barbara, being "the land of flowers," is necessarily the home of the delicate little humming-bird, which lives upon the distilled pollen or bee-food of our gaudiest flora. In a glass case upon the counter within the drug store of A. M. Ruiz was discovered two rows of dead humming-birds, each with their little "feet turned up to the daisies." "The trade is a recently-developed one," said Mr. Ruiz. "It is less than three years old, but it is steadily growing. We don't propose to engage very largely in it, as it is not exactly in our line, which is drugs and perfumery; but we find a profitable market for all we can obtain."

"How do you obtain these humming birds?" queried the reporter

"The little boys bring them in. There are four or five little Californians who live in or near town who are experts with sling-shots, a skilfully manipulated improvement upon the contrivance used by David to kill Goliath. Small pebbles or a teaspoonful of small bird shot is used and, when propelled by our little humming-bird hunters, usually bring down the bird. These little hunters bring in on an average about five birds a day."

"Why do they not use nets? It would not destroy or injure the delicate plumage of these little birds."

"Nets would be better, I believe, but the little Spanish children are used to their little sling-shots and are as skillful with them as are their fathers with the riata, and woe to humming-bird at which one of these little boys discharges a charge of pebbles or bird shot."

"Is there money in the business?":

"No, not worth speaking of. I pay from ten to fifteen cents each for the birds and then I dress and stuff them and ship them to San Francisco. Then I am paid at the rate of fifty cents each for the female common bird and seventy-five cents each for those male birds of the brilliant plumage."

"Is there more than one variety of humming-bird in the market?"

"Yes, we have four. There is the 'Fiery,' or that bird you see there with the red flaming throat. Then there is the sulphuretted or yellow bronzed bird. Next the ordinary male, which has a green and red plumage, and last, the brown, unbronzed female bird."

"What is the extent of the trade?"

"Last year we sent off less than a thousand birds; we could have found a market for at least three times the number exported."

In continued conversation it was discovered that while San Francisco obtains a large proportion of these delicate little birds, the best and prettiest are selected and shipped direct to the fashion centers in Paris and London, where they command a high price.