See how distressed the poor dead creatures seem to be,--how they are twisted all out of shape. They are made to squat or perch in positions that make them look as if they were in agony. Not one of them all has a natural, happy look, because the people who put them up to sell have never loved the birds nor studied their ways. All they care about is the money they can get for them. You will notice that some of the birds in ladies' bonnets have been cut in two. Sometimes just the head and wings are to be seen. If these ladies stopped to see what they were doing, and to think of how ridiculous they look, they would never wear these ornaments, just like savages. [Illustration: Snowy Heron.] Many of the birds that are very rare and beautiful have been nearly or quite all killed for this fashion. Some of the most delicate plumes you see have been taken from the egret, or white heron, at nesting time. The mothers are shot or stoned to death very easily, because they will not leave their young. It is said that many are left wounded and yet alive after the plumes have been stripped off. There is no one to care for the young which are left in their nests, and so they die of cold and hunger. All this suffering is just to satisfy the cruel pride of women and girls who must wear birds in their bonnets. If boys would resolve never to kill a bird, even though they could get money by doing it; and if girls would resolve never to wear a bird or a bird's wing on their hats, our country would be more beautiful with song and color than it has ever been. We sat in church the other day, and in front of us was a lady with nine bird's wings on her bonnet. She was a tender-hearted lady, and probably would not hurt a fly herself. Yet her pride had really caused the death and suffering of five birds, and possibly of fifteen or twenty birdlings. She did not stop to think. Will you, kind reader, stop to think? * * * * * _READING._ =Badlam's Suggestive Lessons in Language and Reading.= A manual for primary teachers. Plain and practical; being a transcript of work actually done in the school-room. $1.50. =Badlam's Stepping-Stones to Reading.--A Primer.= Supplements the 283-page book above. Boards. 30 cts. =Badlam's First Reader.= New and valuable word-building exercises, designed to follow the above. Boards. 35 cts. =Bass's Nature Stories for Young Readers: Plant Life.= Intended to supplement the first and second reading-books. Boards. 30 cts. =Bass's Nature Stories for Young Readers: Animal Life.= Gives lessons on animals and their habits. To follow second reader. Boards. 40 cts. =Firth's Stories of Old Greece.= Contains 17 Greek myths adapted for reading in intermediate grades. Illustrated. Boards. 35 cts. =Fuller's Illustrated Primer.= Presents the word-method in a very attractive form to the youngest readers. Boards. 30 cts.