42 
HISTORICAL PART 
not advisable, for in that case it was possible that the 
Southern States would not accept the Convention. Further it 
was not advisable to disturb to too great an extent the har- 
mony of the existing laws; it was not expedient to lay hands 
on the Game Laws, for in this respect very diverse measures 
were in force in the different States, while in some States 
the question of fowling was regulated not by the Game 
Laws but by special legislation. 
Consequently the Convention should include the following 
points : 
1. The destruction or catching of those insect-eating birds 
to be included in a list to be compiled should be abso- 
lutely prohibited. 
2. The catching or shooting, except in breeding times, of 
those birds which live on insects and seeds and are 
therefore of less value to agriculture, should be permitted. 
3. The destruction and extermination of the nests, broods 
and nestlings of birds known to be useful should be for- 
bidden. A list of noxious birds should also be compiled. 
4. Of the methods of catching, bird-lime, snares and every 
form of trap should be prohibited. 
In support of his motion, the speaker maintained that 
birds were killed either for sport or for consumption; but 
even if both points of view were admissible, insect-eaters 
could be made an exception of. For, whereas seed-eaters fly 
in large flocks and consequently offer bird-catchers plenty of 
material, insect-eaters only form small groups and are, con- 
sequently, catchable only in small quantities: they are, there- 
fore, of less importance than seed-eaters even from the point 
of view of consumption.^ 
1 Italian gourmets, however, make sharp distinctions between insect- 
eaters and esteem a dish of warblers above any other species. O. H. 
