17 



Society for the Protection of Birds, which trains and employs 

 " watchers" to protect birds during the nesting season. 



It is significant that the measures taken by the respective States 

 for the protection of birds are based on the principles of Baron von 

 Berlepsch, a fact which is sufficiently proved by the numerous 

 translations of his work.* 



The representatives of various German States have repeatedly 

 stayed at Seebach for the purpose of studying thoroughly the measures 

 employed at the experimental and model station. In 1910 the 

 visitors were especially numerous, so that the visitors' book contains 

 over six hundred names since April. To these we must add those who 

 were sent by local boards and forest departments to attend the lectures 

 there, and those who came of their own accord. It is to be hoped 

 that this example will be followed elsewhere. Observations made on 

 the spot are far more effective than books. There can be no doubt 

 that those who have seen the arrangements at Seebach, and the 

 marvellous results which they have produced, will be convinced, once 

 for all, of the correctness of the methods employed. 



The active interest which is taken on all sides in the protection 

 of birds is undoubtedly a clear proof of its great importance ; 

 but it may not be out of place to bring forward a few reasons to 

 justify it. 



II. REASONS FOR THE PROTECTION OF BIRDS. 



THE protection of birds is first of all of importance from the point of 

 view of the political economist. This has been sufficiently demonstrated 

 by the thorough investigations which were carried out at an earlier 

 period as well as recently. A few of the newest and most irrefutable 

 proofs will be found on pp. 50 and 51 ; for the rest the reader is referred 

 to the books dealing with this subject, especially those mentioned 

 in the note.f 



* " Der gesammte Vogelsehutz, seine Begriindung und Ausfiihrung." 



t The publications of the U.S. Board of Agriculture. The publications of the 

 National Committee of Audobon Societies in North America. The publications 

 of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds in England. " Studien iiber die 

 wirtschaftliche Bedeutung der insektenfressenden Vogel," " Magenuntersuchungen 

 land-und forstwirtschaftlich wichtiger Vogel," " Tierwelt und Landwirtschaft," 

 by Prof. Dr. Korig. " Nutzen und Schaden der Vogel," by Otto Herman. 

 Older works are those by Oken, Grloger, Lenz, Baldamus, Brehm, etc. 



