They did work for the society during a period of the Second World War. Both were Swiss, had wonderful language skills and the ability to virtually charm birds out of a tree. They brought in long-wattled umbrellabirds, some of the most beautiful races of the cock-of-the-rocks, (indistinct) Congo peacocks, wonderful, wonderful creatures, and did this with great sensitivity. They were generally admired around the world and Cordier wrote some very interesting articles. He usually wrote in French or German, but, eventually animal collecting as a profession disappeared. It was time. The few animals that come out of nature nowadays are quite frequently collected by zoos in an area, but having big collecting establishments as there were, when I first came to New York in the 1950s is very rare. The Rui, the German family, Louis Rui Incorporated had a big facility down in the Bowery and Henry Trefflich had another.
