THE FIRST STEPS 
37 
The text of the six modified articles was as follows: 
1. The catching and killing of noxious birds is allowed 
at all times. 
Other birds may not be caught or killed from the 1^^ of 
March to the 15**^ of September of any year. 
2. The destruction or taking of the nests and eggs 
of birds living wild (except those of noxious birds) is for- 
bidden. 
3. The catching of birds with nooses (au lacet), with spring- 
rod (au largon), with traps (au trebuchet), with permanent large 
nets (aux grands filets) e. g. with the Roccolo, Roganja or 
Paretaio, particularly with the quail-catching nets, with bird- 
lime (a la glu), with or without little owls (avec ou sans 
chouette) is prohibited. 
4. The employment of insect-eating birds as decoys is 
forbidden even in permissible methods of bird-catching. 
5. For catching or killing for scientific purposes ex- 
emption from the general regulations is permissible only on 
special request being made. 
6. The sale of live or dead birds during the close season 
is forbidden. 
These articles were received with much hesitation in 
Italy, and all good intentions of the Italian Government 
were in vain ; the feelings of distaste were unconquerable. 
The prohibition of the permanent large nets, so well 
adapted for the capture of birds in masses, excited particular 
disfavour. 
