138 
HISTORICAL PART 
Concluding words. 
If we take a look at the schedules of useful and noxious 
birds, we shall at once be struck by an error in the drafting : 
viz. the Red-footed Kestrels, Common and Lesser Kestrels are 
not included in Schedule I but have found their way in to 
Schedule H (of noxious birds) as exceptions. The same fault 
is to be found in the original French Text annexed to this 
book, — „Faucons .... a Texception des Faucons Kobez, 
cresserelle et cresserine." 
The Convention takes no account of the glory of the 
forests, the Golden Oriole, nor of any species of thrush. The 
discussion of this question is reserved for another place. 
Yet we must admit that, if all the States of Europe should 
endorse the Convention, that would mean a great progress 
indeed: so the propaganda is entirely justified. 
The chief question, one which is now, so to say, on the 
lips of every man, is, „What will Italy do? Is there any hope 
of improvement?" 
To day there is none! 
Nay, the state of things has deteriorated. The acceptance 
of the Paris Convention has invalidated the „ Declaration" 
of 1875, the work of Count Gyula Andrassy and Visconti 
Venosta, the only document which bound Italy to protect 
useful birds. 
We know that the taking of birds forms an essential 
element of the being of the Italian people: it is connected 
moreover with vast material interests; and we know how 
difficult it is to do away with any tendency of the kind, 
especially where the people is inclined to give way to the 
temptations of games of chance and is, therefore, only too 
ready to engage in any work (such as bird-catching) which, 
in the conceptions of the world at large, requires a certain 
