xlv 
[Vol. X. 
reasons. All these causes were diminishing the nesting 
opportunities of many birds and their supply of natural food. 
Therefore the “ practical ’’ bird-protection, which was so 
warmly advocated on the Continent by Freiherr von Ber- 
lepsch, aimed at nothing less than to furnish new breeding- 
places for useful birds, natural food in hard winter-times, and 
cover and protection against their enemies. The feeding in 
winter-time was not so easy, and one might read Berlepsch’s 
book on this subject with advantage. The planting of thick 
bushes, especially those with thorns and berry-bearing 
species as were liked, by birds, instead of the foreign ever- 
greens and shrubs which only a few birds really loved, was 
not within the means of every one, and could only be done 
by landowners who were interested in birds ; but the putting 
up of nesting-boxes could be done almost everywhere, in 
gardens, parks, and woods, on a large or small scale. In 
Germany, nesting-boxes were a very old institution, but 
they had never met with genei’al appi'oval, as they had never 
been quite successful. Now, however, von Bcrlepsch had 
invented nesting-boxes like those exhibited, and they were a 
most wonderful success. They were imitations of Wood- 
peckers holes, and Avere readily accepted by birds, especially 
by Tits. They must, however, be put up properly, and 
in BerlepsclFs book on bird-protection some good instructions 
were giA'en. Mr. Charles Rothschild and Mr. Walter Roth- 
schild had introduced them on a small scale in various places, 
and Mr. Hartert hoped to be able to report concerning their 
success during the next session of the Club, and he trusted 
that other ornithologists would advocate them. They were 
made in great numbers, and could be had for about sixpence 
each, from a firm in Westphalia, who were making them 
according to Berlepsch’s instruction. 
Mr. Ernst Haktert exhibited and explained an instru- 
ment inA^ented by Mr. L. WiglesAvorth, which he called a 
” Ratiometer,” the object of which Avas to ascertain the pro- 
portions that different-sized specimens (or parts of specimens) 
bear one to another. Mr. Hartert also announced that 
