LUT 



loherehy they arc exposed, in the reyions of tiic Ornithophayi, which I will not iianic, to 

 the most senseless persecution, and often to extermination, from which they can only he 

 protected IhronyJi international measures. 



Just for this reason we continentals cannot understand why England has not assented 

 to the convention of Paris 1902 — — 



In tlie question of Usefulness very powerful facts support our opinion the German 

 Oruitliobiologist Prof. Rurig brought forward the first in his Report for the International 

 Agricultural Congress at Vienna 1908.' 



HiKSEMANN writes about tliis, „when in the spring of 1905, the whole Hainichwald, an 

 acreage of several square miles, was eaten entirely bare by Tortrix viridana, the oak-forest 

 of Baron von Berlepsch in which for a long time over 2000 nesting boxes had been hung 

 out, was entirely spared. It stood out from the surrounding woods, actually like a green 

 oasis". The second was announced to us by von Platthy, land-steward of the lordship of 

 Kékkő in Neograd County, who stated tiiat when all the fruit-trees in the neighbourhood 

 had been ruined by caterpillars, the orchards of the lordsliip in which nesting boxes were 

 employed, remained intact, and yielded a harvest of fruit &c. 



There is nothing to say here about the direct investigation of bird fodder and its 

 results. 



I made a proposal to the highly esteemed gentleman to discuss publicly the matter 

 of bird protection, naturally „suaviter in modo, fortiter in re". It was in my mind that the 

 highly honoured name of Newton would give great weight to the afl'air and might lead to 

 important results. However he no longer had any inclination for it. In his letter of May 29, 

 1907, he says „I am an old man, and not given to fighting". My reply of June 2, to this 

 last letter he received just before his death, for on June 7th he passed away. 



All Honour to his Memory. 



Magdalene College, Cambridge. 17 fév. 1896. 



Recevez, je vous prie, mes remerciements très vifs pour le journal „Aquila" (Nos. 3, 4) 

 que vous m'avez fait l'Iioniieur d'envoyer. 



Alfred Newton. 



Sir, 



19 May, 1905. 



I have to acknowledge wiih much gratification the receipt of two books which 

 you have done nie the great honour of sending to me, and to assure you that I shall 

 devote my best attention to them. 



In returning you my thanks for these welcome gifts, allow me to add the expression 

 of iiiy high admiration of the zeal with which you pursue these ornithophaeuological investi- 

 gations, and so believe me to remain, with to highest esteem, 



Yours most faithfully 



Alfred Newton. 



Cf. also HiESEMANN M. Lösung der Vogelschutzfrage nach Frh. von Berlepsch, 1909. p. 55. 



