THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL ORNITHOLOGICAL CONGRESS, 1881. 
63 
Shrikes, 
Finches, 
Crows, 
Coots, 
Moorhens, 
Herons, 
and all swimming birds not figuring as game, by name 
merganseres, cormorants, terns, gulls, petrels, razorbills, divers 
and grebes. 
Dr. Altum accompanied his resolution with explanatory 
notes, in which he remarked in the first place that the pro- 
posal was a negative one, and that it might be modified in 
many respects. E. g. among birds to be hunted down he 
had included all species of crows, whereas he had observed 
that the rook, in destroying the caterpillars of the Noctua 
graminis and popularis, was of decided value to reapers, 
besides being invaluable to ploughed land in that, while 
following the plough, it picked up the grubs: but it was 
also noxious in that it picked up the seed sown. Here was 
a case of usefulness and noxiousness in one: and so it was 
with finches etc. 
This explanation and the particularisation contained therein, 
which was in part insinuatory, was the sign for the com- 
mencement of a detailed debate. 
Altum' s antagonist, E Homeyer, at once found fault 
with Altum's issue and declared war; his view was, besides, 
that there was no need to go into details, as such could 
not be thoroughly discussed within the time at the disposal 
of the Congress, and that they should content themselves 
with a discussion of general questions.^ 
^ cf. E. F. V. Homeyer: „Die Spechte und ihr Wert in forstlicher 
Beziehung". Frankfurt, 1879. 
