Count T. Salvador! on Ruticilla nigra. 281 



same year (p. 581), appeared a full account of the supposed 

 new species by Prof. Gij^lioli, under the title " On a presumed 

 new Species of Redstart from the Island of Sardinia '' ('Ibis/ 

 1903, pp. 581-584). Here we Avere told that the two birds 

 described had been captured alive by a Sardinian shepherd, 

 who, liaviug no cage, put them in a lamp or lantern, which 

 I suppose must have been very smoky. This circumstance 

 awoke a suspicion that the melanism suggested by Rothschild 

 and Hartert was artificial. 



Prof. Giglio-Toss, who has succeeded Prof Giglioli at 

 Florence, at my request has sent to me the two typical 

 birds, and it has been sufficient to wash the tail and a wing 

 of one with soap and water or with benzene, while using a 

 white cameFs-hair pencil, to have the pencil blackened as well 

 as ray fingers and the towel, while the dark coloration of the 

 tail was paling and getting redder. 



This result was witnessed by all the staff" of the Museum, 

 Prof. Camerano, Count Peracca, Prof, Cognetti, Dr. Borelli, 

 Dr. Zavattari, and by Prof. Giglio-Toss, 



The two birds examined are Ruticilla titys accidentally 

 smoked. No doubt both specimens are males, as positively 

 stated by Dr. Hartert. As to the alleged differences in the 

 sternum and pectoral arch, I leave the subject to my friend 

 Prof. Giglio-Toss to investigate, but 1 doubt whether 

 they will be confirmed. As regards the asserted differences 

 in size between the two Sardinian birds and those from 

 continental localities, there are none ; at least the bill, the 

 wing, the tail, and the tarsus are absolutely similar: the size 

 of the two birds appears smaller on account of the way in 

 which they have been stuffed. 



It is especially worth mentioning that the specimen 

 marked male is not symmetrical, having the feathers of 

 the right side of the abdomen grey, almost as in normal 

 B. titys, while the left side is blackened by a more complete 

 smoking. 



