Recently published Oniitholoyical J forks. 183 



12. Herman on Bird-Protection in Hungary. 



[The International Convention for the Protection of Birds, concluded 

 in 1902 ; and Hungary. Budapest, 1907. Pp. i-viii, 1-241.] 



This work, which the Hungarian Minister of Agriculture 

 has now^ ordered to be published in English, is written by 

 Herr Otto Ilerraaii, and gives the history of the continental 

 movement for the Protection of Birds and of the progress 

 made hitherto. 



After a preliminary meeting of German farmers and 

 foresters in 1868, the matter was taken up by Ministers 

 in Hungary and Austria; they subsequently referred it to 

 their diplomatic representatives, who reported favourably of 

 the attitude of Italy, Switzerland, and France. But further 

 negotiations shewed that the people of Italy were unwilling 

 to follow the lead of their Government. The subject was 

 again raised at the International Economic Congress at 

 Vienna in 1873, when lists were actually brought forward 

 of useful and noxious species, and a formal declaration was 

 issued of agreement between Austria, Hungary, and Italy. 

 A protocol was also drawn up requesting the co-operation of 

 other countries, to which France and Switzerland replied 

 satisfactorily, while Germany and Belgium preferred to wait 

 until a decision had been derinitely arrived at upon the lists 

 of useful and noxious birds. 



As it happened, the first International Ornithological 

 Congress met at Vienna in 1884, and subsequently the 

 second at Budapest in 1891, at both of which Bird-Protection 

 was further discussed, while finally the third International 

 Congress took place at Paris in 1895. Schedules of species 

 were then drawn up, and matters of all kinds thoroughly dis- 

 cussed, after which differences of opinion arose and Great 

 Britain, Holland, Russia, and Italy withdrew their represen- 

 tatives. Several years were taken to arrange conditions 

 agreeable to the various countries, and finally in 1906 the 

 Convention for Protection of Birds became an accomplished 

 fact, and the signatories were Austria, Hungary, Germany, 

 Belgium, Spain, France, Greece, Luxemburg, Monaco, 

 Portugal, Sweden, Norway, and Switzerland. 



