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.* 



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, f 



I wish specially to refer to the effective activity with regard to 

 practical bird-protection of the " Koniglichen General Kommissionen." 

 Formerly they were our worst enemies on account of their inconsiderate 

 behaviour when dealing with the small holdings and allotments, but 

 now, thanks to the instructions of the Minister of Agriculture, they 

 have become active promoters of bird-protection. Undoubtedly 

 they can be as useful as formerly they were the contrary. 



If the small holdings signify an attack on the right of individuals, 

 they also exercise a powerful influence on the agricultural character 

 of the land, often enough a bad one on nature as a whole and on the 

 world of birds in particular. Not only the landowners, but also 

 strangers who are not materially affected, feel this unpleasantly.- It 

 is therefore quite right that the Royal General Commissions now do 



* 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. 



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

 for fruit culture which take place in many districts. 



