11 



has received much attention, and though the RepubHc was a 

 party to the Paris Convention of 1902, laws were at that date 

 already in existence in Switzerland which went quite as far as 

 those tvhich the signatory Powers recommended. The law now 

 in force is the " Loi Federale sur la chasse et la protection des 

 oiseaux " of the 24th June, 1904, taken in conjunction with 

 the Regulations for carrjdng it into effect (Reglement d' execution) 

 of the 18th April, 1905. The provisions of these combined are 

 so comprehensive that, notwithstanding the small amount of 

 space at our command, they deserve examination in some detail. 

 Certain birds are protected ; they may not be killed or taken, 

 and the protection is extended to their eggs and young. The 

 hst of protected birds comprises all the small insectivorous species, 

 the Lark, Starling, all Thrushes (except the Fieldfare, the Red- 

 wing and the Mistlethrush), many of the Finches, the Cuckoo, 

 Tree-creeper, Nuthatch, Wryneck, Hoopoe, all the Woodpeckers, 

 the Jackdaw, Roller, Kestrel, all nocturnal birds of prey (except 

 the Eagle Owl), Storks and Swans. The destruction of Starlings, 

 Blackbirds and Thrushes, which do damage to the vines and 

 orchards, may be authorised in autumn, but must not be continued 

 after the vintage or fruit picking is over.* Moreover, the birds 

 so killed may not be sold or purchased. "f 



The importation and transportation of protected birds is- 

 prohibited, though the Department of the Interior may grant 

 exceptions in certain cases in respect of a Hmited number of birds 

 to be kept in cages. { 



Bird-catching, whether by means of traps, decoy birds, little 

 Owls,§ limed twigs, or any kind of snare, is strictly forbidden. || 



The authorities of the various Cantons may give facilities to 

 persons for collecting birds, eggs and nests for scientific objects, 

 provided they do not make a trade of it.^ 



The penalties for breaking the law are fines ranging from ten* 

 to sixty francs ; ** and confiscation of the birds and eggs and of 

 the implements used.H 



There is also an interesting clausefj which provides that 

 children should be taught which birds are protected, and 

 encouraged to spare them. 



* Article 17 of the law. f Article 18 of the Reglement d'ex^cution. 



X Article 17 of the Reglement. 



§ The use of Owls by fowlers to attract birds, which is here prohibited,, 

 is not only a very old custom, being described by Aristotle (History 

 of Animals, Book IX., Chap. 2, Sect. 3), but is also very widespread, 

 being well-known in almost every European country and commonly 

 practised in Japan. 



II Article 19 of the law. ^ Article 20 of the law. ** Article 21 of 



the law. -j"! Article 24 of the law. J J Article 18 of the law. 



