SECTION III. 



CO-OPERATION IS NECESSARY FOR A RATIONAL PROTECTION OF 



BIRDS. 



To promote and spread the protection of birds, which is both necessary 

 and important, requires the co-operation of the State, of local authorities, 

 societies, individuals, and, especially, of the schools. The task of the 

 authorities, especially of State officials, is not only to protect birds, 

 but, above all, to interest the people in the subject, especially by in- 

 fluencing officials, general commissions,* local boards, the adminis- 

 tration of woods and forests, school committees, and others. As we 

 have already mentioned, many States have energetically encouraged 

 efforts to protect birds in an efficient fashion.' f 



We would impress on all who wish to be of practical use the necessity 

 of carrying on their work in a thoroughly efficient manner. It is better 

 to work slowly and well than to do much in a wrong way. Nothing 

 is more discouraging than failure, but this can only result from carrying 

 out the measures wrongly or from making use of wrong measures. 

 By lectures, pamphlets, direct instruction, and information, intelligent 

 people and societies can do much to further the cause. J 



The " Commission for Furthering the Protection of Birds," appointed 

 by the Union of the German Societies for the protection of animals, will, 



* An important step has been taken in Prussia in this respect. The Govern- 

 ment has expressly directed the general and special commissions to protect, as 

 far as possible, all plantations serving as bird-shelters, and when ground is 

 allotted, to let new plantations be arranged as bird shelter-woods, and to have 

 nesting-boxes hung up. 



f It is much to be hoped that the catching of birds in snares, and the massacre 

 of our singing birds in Italy, will soon be put an end to by the interference of the 

 authorities. 



J Instruction in bird-protection might easily be added to the annual courses 

 for fruit culture which take place in many districts. 



