13 



this that Austria has long appreciated the importance of bird- 

 protection, but only two provinces have since 1902 passed 

 measures which bring their laws more into harmony with the 

 recommendations of the Paris Convention, namely, Lower Austria 

 and Carinthia. 



In Hungary the question of bird-protection has received much 

 careful consideration by the Government. The chief Act was 

 until recently that of 1894,* but a Circular Decree of great im- 

 portance, which had the force of law, was issued on the 18th 

 March, 1901, by the Royal Hungarian Ministry of Agriculture. 

 By this, certain mammals and birds are to be afforded due pro- 

 tection. The list of birds is of considerable dimensions, com- 

 prising 132 names. f The taking of the eggs and nests or young 

 of the protected species, or exposing them for sale, without leave 

 from the authorities, is made a penal offence. J Facilities are 

 given for the taking of specimens alive, killing and taking eggs 

 and nests for scientific objects and for their transport, but licence 

 must be obtained from the authorities, and the restrictions under 

 which the necessary leave will be granted are somewhat severe. § 



On the 26th January, 1906, sanction was given to an Act by 

 which the whole terms of the Paris Convention became in- 

 corporated in the law of Hungary, || 



PORTUGAL. 



Little or nothing is done to protect useful birds in Portugal ; 

 this is all the more disappointing because Portugal signed the 

 Paris Convention. There are, it is true, laws for the protection 

 of game birds at certain times of the year, but the penalties 

 provided by these laws are not only very light but are rarely 

 rigidly enforced. 



SPAIN. 



The chief Spanish law dates from 1902,^ and the rules made for 

 its appUcation came into force in 1903.** The sale of insectivorous 

 birds is entirely prohibited, with the exception of certain species, 

 which are only protected during a specified portion of the year. 



The shooting of birds which are considered to be at all times 

 insectivorous is absolutely forbidden. A list of the birds deemed 

 to come within this category is given, and includes the Kestrels, 



* Act XII. of 1894. t Sect. 1 of Decree of 1901. J Sect. 2 of Decree. 



§ Sects. 3-8 of Decree. || Act I. of 1906. See also Herman, op. cit. 

 ^ La Ley de Caza of 16th May, 1902. 

 ** Reglamento para la applicacion de la Ley de Caza of 3rd July, 1903. 



