Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 5 (1901).djvu/35

Rh he observed it during 1897 and 1899 at the "Roccolo" of Dossena. Last year, at the end of October, he received five young specimens, which, according to him, undoubtedly belonged to that species. The Common Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra) is resident and fairly abundant; it certainly breeds in the woods near Piazzolo, according to the information of Dr. Giacomelli, who has succeeded in finding nests several times. They were placed upon the horizontal branches of some firs, from six to eight feet from the trunk; sometimes they were built on the top of the firs. The Two-barred Crossbill (Loxia bifasciata) is very rare, and certainly a straggler; a specimen was caught at the Dossena "Roccolo" two years ago; it was unfortunately eaten (Dr. Giacomelli's fides). The Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris, v. Stornèll) is principally a passage-bird in these highlands, but some couples remain during summer, and breed generally on the trees. The Golden Oriole (Oriolus galbula, v. Galbèr) is tolerably common during summer, and breeding also near S. Giovanni Bianco. I found several of them towards Brembilla (1274 ft.) in the Brembilla Valley.

Amongst the Corvidæ, the Alpine Chough (Pyrrhocorax alpinus, v. Tàcola dal bec zald) is common; it does not live so high as the Red-billed Chough (P. graculus), but, like the latter, it nests and is resident. The latter (v. Tàcola dal bec ross) is fairly common, but a widely localized resident, and breeding along all the Orobic watershed on Mount Redorta (9154 ft.), Mount Gleno (8785 ft.). Mount Venerecolo (7889 ft.), Pizzo Tornello (8190 ft.), and sometimes, but not often, at the Cà S. Marco (5582 ft.). They descend a little during winter. The presence of this species in that province is not very extraordinary, but authors seem always ignorant of the fact, though I can vouch for it, as I had a nice adult male caught at Mount Cavallo (7101 ft.) on Sept. 3rd, 1893; this is preserved in my collection. We found the Carrion-Crow (Corvus corone) uncommon, but the Book (C. frugilegus) and the Hooded Crow (C. cornix) common; they breed, and I found many of them feeding in a meadow, on Aug. 20th last year, at the Corno Grosso (4025 ft,) near Piazza Brembana. The Raven (C. corax) is tolerably abundant on the highest mountains, from which it descends in winter time; and the Jackdaw (C. monedula) is very