Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 5 (1901).djvu/26

4 Oneta (about 2000 ft.), owner Dr. Morali; Roccolo Costa S. Gallo (about 2500 ft.), owner Sign.Luiselli; Roccolo Ornica (about 2850 ft.), owner Sign. Gualteroni; Roccolo of the Trinità, near Dossena (about 3050 ft.); Roccolo Valbusa (about 4000 ft.), and those, above Roncobello, which lie at about 4300 ft. It is very difficult to ascertain how many birds are caught in a period of about three months; we can say an enormous quantity, but envy, diffidence, and other qualifications render an estimate difficult, though it is certain that many "Roccoli" yearly capture several thousands of small birds. Another matter which adds to the difficulty of collecting birds is the quantity eaten by the inhabitants. If the rich seek the delicate ones, the poor are satisfied with anything; even Buzzards, Owls, and Woodpeckers are as readily eaten by them as the Woodcock or the Capercaille!

The climate is neither very cold, nor very warm even in summer; the snow is not continuous on the high mountains, but only on some narrow northerly situated spots.

The Brembana Valley, more than the rugged Seriana Valley, offers to the traveller a greater variety and beauty in scenery, a most luxuriant vegetation, and also, not to be despised, many artistic treasures; amongst which may be mentioned the pictures of Palma il Vecchio and others, which are well-known to everybody and everywhere.

The Bearded Vulture (Gypaëtus barbatus, v. Agola) lived in these mountains in former years; but is probably now extinct, though a specimen was recently caught—I think between 1896 and 1897—not very far from Camerata Cornello (1800 ft.). I am quite sure about this fact, as I had the opportunity of seeing and purchasing six well-preserved tail-feathers in the house of a mountaineer, and these are preserved in my collection as a proof of that occurrence. The feathered portion of them measures from about ten to thirteen inches. I think, from the comparisons I made with splendid specimens from Sardinia, they must have belonged to a matured bird. People say that this species breeds not seldom on the cliffs of Mount Legnone (8226 ft.), but I think that affirmation is absolutely incorrect. The species is represented in Count Camozzi's local and well-known ornithological collection at Ranica, near Bergamo; but the two specimens came from Valtellina (Sondrio), as my friend Count Cesare Camozzi-Vertova