MALCOLM SMITH is a biologist, a former chief scientist and deputy chief executive at the Countryside Council for Wales, and a former board member of the Environment Agency, Europe's largest environmental regulator, for England and Wales.

For such simple garments, and throughout their long history, hats have had a devastating impact on wildlife. Made of wild-caught mammal furs, decorated with feathers or whole stuffed birds, historically they have driven many species to near extinction. At its peak, the hat trade was estimated to be killing 200 million birds a year. Between 1901 and 1910, over 14 million pounds of exotic feathers, at the time valued at £20million (over $25 million), were sold at the London feather auctions. Today, while no wild birds are captured for feather decoration, some wild animals are still trapped and killed for hat-making. A fascinating read, Hats will have you questioning the history of your headwear.