of Nordmann's Pndlncole in Italy. 61 



merganser, aud Gelochelidon anylica, all species most difficult 

 to obtain here. 



Lately he has sent me examples of Cyanecula suecica, 

 Plectrophanes lapponicus, and Adodromas temmincki (in 

 full wiuter dress), Totanus fuscus 6 2 (in fi^H summer 

 dress), Hijdrocolceus melanocephalus 6 ? (in full summer 

 dress), Rissa tridactyla, and three beautiful Pratincoles, 

 among Trliich one was labelled " 6 , G. pratincola, May 5th, 

 189.2, Pila rice-fields, near Bagnolo (Lonigo)/^ 



On first seeing this bird I took no especial notice of it, but 

 I was afterwards impressed by the fact that it was different 

 from the common Pratincoles, because the forehead and lores 

 were jet-black. Then I examined the under-surface of the 

 wing, and I found that it was quite black. Undoubtedly 

 I had before me a real specimen of Nordmann's Pratincole. 

 I must say that I was greatly astonished at this fact, whicli 

 had remained unrecognized for seven years ! But at the 

 same time it is so certain that no doubt whatever can 

 arise about it. In the first place, Mr. Gianese is a good, 

 careful, and honest man ; he knows our birds only from 

 experience, principally acquired by his passion for shooting 

 and fowling ; besides, his own collection is entirely composed 

 of birds shot in his district, generally by himself, and all 

 skinned and stuffed from the jlesh by himself. As a last, 

 but not the least, argument, I dare say if he had been aware 

 of the real importance of this specimen, he would not have 

 sent it me as Glareola pratincola, and charged me only four 

 francs for it. 



The differences between G. pratincola and G. melanoptera 

 consist mainly in the latter having the axillaries and under 

 wing-coverts not of a lively chestnut colour, but black, the 

 upper parts darker, and the green glossy tint more developed, 

 the secondaries uniformly coloured, and not tipped with white, 

 the under-surface of the body paler, but the flanks darker. 

 Besides, in my specimen the throat is whiter or less ochreous, 

 the hinder neck is more rusty, the head is very dark, almost 

 black on the forehead, and between the eye and bill there is 

 a broad black band^ which forms a very large spot embracing 

 the fore pi^rt of the eye, while in O- pratincola the forehead 



