FOREWORD 
3 
out what still requires to be done internationally 
before a perfectly satisfactory state of things can be 
attained. 
Before passing on, the fact must be particularly 
emphasised that the Hungarian Ministry of Agricul- 
ture has, from the start, been in favour of interna- 
tional protection of birds useful to agriculture, a 
position which the said Ministry has consistently 
maintained. 
Another motive for the publication of this sketch 
is found in the fact that the International Convention 
in question is in organic connexion with our own 
protective measures, which are of importance, nay, 
more, a vital necessity, for the simple reason that our 
national resources are chiefly dependent even today 
on our agriculture and its branches. 
Our special measures taken to protect useful birds 
reached their climax at the period when the Inter- 
national Convention was made law. And as, by virtue 
of § 11 of the said Convention, the States that sign 
the same are bound to inform each other of any 
special measures they may take, such information 
being conveyed to the respective quarters by the 
French Government, the inclusion in this sketch of 
the measures taken by our authorities is both useful 
and necessary. 
As far as the consummation of the work is con- 
cerned, we must mention i) the decree issued on 
June 19. 1906 (No. 3686) by His Excellency Mr. 
1* 
