25 
PROTECTION OF BIRDS ON THE CONTINENT. 
By A VICE-PRESIDENT. 
(Continued fvom page 7.) 
i||ji=gs!S a result of the discussions recorded in the previous 
article, a committee was appointed, and the members 
sat for four hours on the following day. M. Borggreve 
proposed, firstly, to beg H.I.H. the Prince to use 
his influence in obtaining through the diplomatic corps from 
various governments in Europe and North Africa, a legal 
protection of birds during the first half of the year, and 
during the years 1886, 1887 and 1888, for species which were 
not prejudicial to the interests of agriculture, preservation of 
game and pisciculture. Secondly, to ask ornithologists to note 
in a given district, by means of comparative tables, the number 
of birds nesting in 1884, 1885, 1886 and 1887, and to forward 
these tables to a second or third Congress. Professor Giglioli 
(Italy) said that some of the matter submitted by MM. Fatio, 
De Hayek (Austria), De Tchusi (Austria), De Pelzeln (France) 
was already included in the agreement between Austria and 
Italy, and that other proposals would encounter unsurmount- 
able opposition in Italy. It seemed to him impossible to intro- 
duce fresh obstacles to the capture of birds in certain parts of 
his country, where from time immemorial people had been accus- 
tomed to go in pursuit of birds. 
Dr. Palacky, M. De Hayell, MM. Zeller and Kermenic, 
Doctors Schier, Schiarazzi, Russ and Pollen discussed M. 
Fatio’s proposal at some length, and finally the following reso- 
lution was carried : — 
The first Ornithological Congress of Vienna begs the Minister of Home and 
Foreign Affairs at Vienna to take the necessary steps towards obtaining the 
consent of various nations of the globe to the establishment of an inter- 
national convention, having for its aim the publication of draft legal schemes 
based on these two principles (1) During the first half of the legal year 
(Kalendjahr) or during the period which corresponds to it, it is forbidden, 
except to persons duly authorised, to destroy (erlagen) birds with engines 
other than firearms, to capture them, take their eggs, and trade either 
with the said birds or their eggs. (2) The capture of the said birds eu 
masse is entirely forbidden. 
With this vote the business of the first section terminated. 
In concluding his report, M. Oustalet begged to draw the 
attention of the Minister of Agriculture to the following points 
The increasing war which is waged against birds, and 
especially insectivorous birds, blackbirds, wrens, fly-catchers, 
swallows, &c., seriously injures the interests of agriculture by 
permitting the development of myriads of destructive insects. 
The result of inquiries made by several Agricultural Societies 
and by the Acclimatisation Society of Paris is that the existence 
of various kinds of birds of undisputed utility is seriously 
threatened, and that certain passeras, formerly very common 
