xlv [Vol. x. 



reasons. All these causes were diminishing the nesting 

 opportunities of many birds and their supply of natural food. 

 Therefore the " practical " bird-protection, which was so 

 warmly advocated on the Continent by Freiherr von Ber- 

 lepsch, aimed at nothing less than to furnish new breeding- 

 places for useful birds, natural food in hard winter-times, and 

 cover and protection against their enemies. The feeding in 

 winter-time was not so easy, and one might read Berlepsch's 

 book on this subject with advantage. The planting of thick 

 bushes, especially those with thorns and berry-bearing 

 species as were liked by birds, instead of the foreign ever- 

 greens and shrubs which only a few birds really loved, was 

 not within the means of every one, and could only be done 

 by landowners who were interested in birds j but the putting 

 up of nesting-boxes could be done almost everywhere, in 

 gardens, parks, and woods, on a large or small scale. In 

 Germany, nesting-boxes were a very old institution, but 

 they had never met with general approval, as they had never 

 been quite successful. Now, however, von Berlepsch had 

 invented nesting-boxes like those exhibited, and they were a 

 most wonderful success. They were imitations of Wood- 

 pecker's holes, and were readily accepted by birds, especially 

 by Tits. They must, however, be put up properly, and 

 in Berlepsch's book on bird-protection some good instructions 

 were given. Mr. Charles Rothschild and Mr. Walter Eoth- 

 schilcl had introduced them on a small scale in various places, 

 and Mr. Hartert hoped to be able to report concerning their 

 success during the next session of the Club, and he trusted 

 that other ornithologists would advocate them. They were 

 made in great numbers, and could be had for about sixpence 

 each, from a firm in Westphalia, who were making them 

 according to Berlepsch's instruction. 



Mr. Ernst Hautert exhibited and explained an instru- 

 ment invented "by Mr. L. Wiglesworth, which he called a 

 el Ratiometer/' the object of which was to ascertain the pro- 

 portions that different-sized specimens (or parts of specimens) 

 bear one to another. Mr. Hartert also announced that 



