3o8 



IVofcs and News. [Ju'y 



—The First International Congress of Ornithologists was held in 

 Vienna, April 7-11, under the patronage of the Crown Prince, Rudolf. 

 Among the 130 ornithologists present ware delegates from nearly all the 

 nationalities of Europe, including a large number of ornithologists of 

 world-wide reputation. But there were no delegates from England or the 

 United States. The Congress organized in three sections, which held 

 simultaneous sessions. Section T considered the subject of international 

 bird-protection legislation. After long deliberation the section voted to 

 recommend the adoption bj all nations of (i) a law forbidding the destruc- 

 tion of birds otherwise than by shooting, and then only with legal permis- 

 sion, during the first half of the calendar year, and (2) the wholesale 

 slaughter of birds at all times. Section II had under consideration the sub- 

 ject of the origin of domesticated birds, and also improvement in methods of 

 of bird-rearing, and made various recommendations in reference to these ob- 

 jects. Section III devoted itself to the elaboration of a scheme for the 

 establishment of cooperative bird observation stations throughout the 

 world. Various recommendations were adopted in regard to the details of 

 the plan, and an International Committee was appointed to facilitate the 

 work. This committee was constituted as follows: Russia, Dr. L. von 

 Schrenck, Dr. G. Radde, Dr. J. A. Palmen, and Dr. Bogdanow; Austro- 

 Hungai-y, Count V. von Tschusi, Dr. J. von Madarasz, and Dr. Brusina ; 

 Germany, Dr. E. F. von Homeyer, Dr. A. B. Meyer, and Dr. R. Blasius ; 

 France, Dr. Oustalet and Prof. A. Milne-Edwards; Italy, Dr. H. H. Gig- 

 lioli, and Prof. T. Salvadori ; Switzerland, Dr. V. Fatio and Dr. Girtanner; 

 Norway, Dr. R. Collett; Sweden, Count Thott; Denmark, Prof. C. Liit- 

 ken : Belgium, Baron de Selys-Longchamps and Dr. A. Dubois; Holland, 

 Dr. F. Pollen; Portugal, Dr. Barboza du Boccage ; Greece, Dr. Kriiper; 

 Servia, Dr. Dokic; Japan, Capt. Bla^kiston ; England, Messrs. Harvie- 

 Brown, Cordeaux, and Kermode ; Australia, Dr. E. P. Ramsay; New Zea- 

 land, Dr. W. L. Buller; British India, Dr. Anderson and Da Cunha ; Java, 

 Dr. Vordermann ; Brazil, Baron Carvalho Borges ; Chili, Prof R. A. 

 Philippi ; Argentine Republic, Dr. H. Burmeister and Dr. Berg; United 

 States of North America, Dr. C Hart Merriam and Dr. Elliott Coues. 



At the same time was held a General Ornithological Exhibition, em- 

 bracing upward of 1600 entries, including a rich selection of common 

 fowls. Ducks, Geese, Pigeons and ornamental birds, native Song-birds, 

 exotic birds, and wading and swimming birds. There were also shown 

 many very interesting bird-skins and stuffed birds. The exhibition also 

 included ornithological literature. Special mention is made in the 

 report of the Congress, of two very interesting manuscript maps, prepared 

 by Dr. Reichenow, showing the distribution of single families, genera, and 

 species of birds over the whole world. 



Social intercourse and festivities added greatly to the enjoyment of the 

 occasion ; and the delegates separated in the hope that the next Inter- 

 national Ornithological Congress, to be held at Luzern, Switzerland, in 

 iSfy, would prove as satisfactory as had the one just held at Vienna. 



