8 



extended protection to the Crow, the Moorhen and the Hawfinch, 

 all of which species are under the Imperial Law branded as 

 noxious ! 



It would be out of place in such a treatise as this to enquire 

 deeply into the historical side of the question under discussion, 

 but it seems to be generally recognised that the present position 

 of bird-protection in Europe originated in the movement A\ith 

 this object started in Germany in 1868. In the early part of 1908 

 a great discussion took place in the German Imperial ParUament 

 on the question of the abohtion of the springe-traps used so much 

 for capturing Fieldfares on their autumn migrations. The debate, 

 which ended favourably to those who desired to have the use of 

 the trap forbidden, was chiefly remarkable on account of the 

 strength with which the humanitarian side of the question was 

 argued. The Chancellor in this connection stated that the 

 protection of animals from cruelty was to be regarded not only as 

 the outcome of a love of Nature, but as a matter of moral educa- 

 tion.* The abolition of this cruel trap is, however, only part of 

 a far wider scheme for the better protection of birds in Germany 

 which has been the subject of consideration by a Committee 

 appointed by the Reichstag ; the deliberations of this Committee 

 resulted in the preparation of a measure forbidding the taking or 

 destruction of nests, eggs or young birds and the sale, transit, 

 export and import of nests, eggs or young birds of European 

 species, exceptions being made in the cases of birds nesting on 

 buildings and of the eggs of plovers and gulls. Great restrictions 

 are also placed on bird-catching, while the use of cruel devices, 

 such as poisoned food and bhnded decoys, is absolutely prohibited. 

 The measure also proposes to estabhsh a close time from the 1st 

 March to the 1st September, during which the taking, killing, 

 sale, purchase, import, export, transit and transport of all 

 European birds, dead or ahve, is forbidden.f Tits, Nuthatches 

 and Treecreepers are to be protected at aU times. Game birds 

 and certain other species are not affected by the measure, though 

 these may not be trapped or snared. We do not at present 

 know the fate of this measure, but the mere fact of its preparation 

 is a good and significant omen. 



* This was the subject of an animated article by Dr. Ludwig Staby in the 

 " Berliner Lokal Anzeiger " of the 17th May, 1908. The learned 

 Doctor declares that the result of the division on this question of the 

 springe-trap shows his countrymen to be in advance of all civilised 

 nations. Our Pole-trap Act was, however, passed in 1902, and an 

 Act to prevent the taking of birds by hooks has been passed this 

 year (1908). 



t The framers of this clause had obviously Sect. 1 of the American Model 

 Law (hereinafter referred to) in their minds. 



