182 Bishop, Birds in the Markets of Southern Europe. [April 



Crested Larks (Galerida cristata cristata) appeared. Starlings^ 

 {Sturnus vulgaris vulgaris) were common and there were a few Jays 

 (Garrulus glandarius glandarius) . But of all the birds in the 

 market the majority belonged to the great sparrow tribe. Siskins 

 (Spinus pinus), Bramblings (Fringilla montifringilla), Chaffinches 

 (Fringilla coslebs coelebs) and Tree Sparrows {Passer montanus 

 montanus) suffered most severely, but I noticed also Hawfinches 

 (Coccothraustes coccothraustes coccothraustes) , Bullfinches {Pyrrhula 

 phrrhula europoea), Yellow Hammers {Emberiza citrinella citrinella), 

 Goldfinches (Carduelis carduelis carduelis), Greenfinches (Ligurina 

 chloris Moris), Italian House Sparrows {Passer italios), Redpolls 

 {Acanthis linaria linaria), Linnets {Acanthis cannabina cannabina), 

 Crossbills (Loxia curvirostra curvirosira) , and Reed Buntings {Em- 

 beriza schoeniclus schoeniclus) . 



Redbreasts {Erithacus rubecula rubecula) were common and 

 Stonechats {Pratincola torquata rubicola) and Redstarts {Phoeni- 

 curus ochruros gibraltaricnsis) rare. Great Titmice {Par us iriajor 

 major) were seen almost daily, and occasionally Blue {Parus 

 cceruleus coeruleus), Coal {Parus ater ater) and the Longtailed 

 {Mgithalos caudatus irbii). Wrens {Troglodytes troglodytes trog- 

 lodytes) were seen several times and the Goldcrest {Regulus regulus 

 regulus) once. Rock and Meadow Pipits {Anthus spinoletta 

 spinoletta and Anthus pratensis) and White Wagtails {Motacilla 

 alba alba) were uncommon, but the Thrushes, such as the European 

 Blackbird {Merula vierula merula), Fieldfare {Turdus pilaris), 

 Redwings {Turdus iliaca) and Song Thrushes {Turdus musica) 

 were all abundant. 



That killing song-birds for food is not confined to the poor 

 Italians I learned on Oct. 27, when one of the most prominent and 

 wealthy Italian ornithologists — a delightful man — told me he had 

 shot 180 Skylarks and Pipits the day before, and that his family 

 liked them far better than other game. Our prejudice against 

 selling game does not exist in Europe, and this same ornithologist 

 told me he often shot 200 ducks in a day at his shooting-box, send- 

 ing to the markets what he could not use himself. On Nov. 1, 1910, 

 he shot 82 ducks and on Nov. 8, 103, chiefly Widgeon and Teal. 



In Florence I visited the central market on Nov. 26, 28, 29, 30, 

 Dec. 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, and found birds even more plenty than 



