International Congresses on Ornithology and Tropical Agriculture

Abstract

WE have received the announcement that the fifth International Ornithological Congress will meet in Berlin from May 30 to June 4 inclusive. Its success seems already ensured by the large number of distinguished ornithologists (representing twenty-three countries) who have intimated their intention of attending. According to the programme, the congress will assemble in the “Festsaal” of the Zoological Gardens, and its sectional meetings will be held in the Landwehroffizier-Kasino, close to the Zoological Gardens station of the State railway, where also will be installed on May 29 and following days the business bureau. The president designate is the distinguished professor of the Berlin Natural History Museum, Dr. Anton Reichenow, the subject of whose opening address is “Uber die Fortschritte und den gegenwärtigen Stand der Ornithologie.” In the ordinary course he would have been introduced by the retiring president, the late Dr. Bowdler Sharpe, and the absence of this genial personality, so familiar at these triennial congresses, cannot but cast a shadow over the meeting. The congress is divided into practically the same sections as at its last meeting:—systematic ornithology, anatomy, palæontology, geographical distribution; migration; biology and oology; bird protection; aviculture and acclimatisation; and economic ornithology. Many important papers are already announced by, among others, the president, Count v. Berlepsch, Herr Csörgey, Dr. Eckstein, Dr. Hartert, Dr. Helms, Herr Nehrkorn, Prof. Neumann, Hon. Walter Rothschild, Dr. Thienemann, and Prof. Virchow. Visits to the following places of interest have been arranged:— on Monday afternoon to the Havelsee, at the invitation of the German Ornithological Society; on Thursday morning to the Zoological Gardens, with lunch to follow; on Friday to the Natural History Museum, or a motor trip round Berlin for those who prefer it. On the evening of Tuesday there will be a kinematograph exhibition of bird pictures at the “Urania” Society's rooms. On Wednesday evening the city will entertain the members and their wives, and on Friday evening the customary banquet will take place in the Zoological Gardens. After the close of the congress excursions will be arranged, if sufficient members apply, to the observation station at Rossitten and to the experimental protection station at Seebach. The subscription for. full membership is 20 marks, and for lady associates who do not desire the publications 10 marks. The secretary's address is 43 Invalidenstrasse, Berlin N. 4.