4678 THE ZooLoGiIstT—NovVEMBER, 1875. 
few brown spots. Falco tinnunculoides; eggs greenish brown, 
thickly clouded with dark brown.  Accipiter Nisus; eggs white, 
blotched with dark brown. Syrmium aluco; eggs white and very 
round, 
I was told by two fellow-travellers returned from the Tyrolese 
Alps that at the height of seven or eight thousand feet they had 
met with some handsome reddish birds of the size of our bullfinch, 
which, from the description, could be no other than the scarlet 
bullfinch. 
Between Berne and Interlaken a black bird was seen in the 
distance, which I took for a daw or a chough; but on the following 
day, in ascending the pass, some three thousand feet high, I saw 
two black woodpeckers, one within shot—so there could be little 
doubt that the bird referred to was of this species. After crossing 
the Col de Grinnig, I saw in the village of Lungern, at a road-side 
inn, a small flock of house sparrows. Dr. Bree says that the Italian 
or Cisalpine sparrow is a mere variety, but it appeared to me to be 
a distinct species, differing from our house sparrow both in shape 
and colour. On the Righi, at an elevation of about six thousand 
feet, | saw a few titlarks and white wagtails. When crossing the 
St. Gothard some small larks (probably the short-toed) were seen. 
Hawks were occasionally observed, but none identified. A bird 
with very dark plumage, possibly the black kite, was observed 
hovering around a lofty precipice. 
In Italy but few birds were seen; for instance, between Milan 
and Verona, a magpie or two, a marsh or reed warbler, wagtails, 
and house sparrows of course. Venice swarms with pigeons; never 
did I see such swarms, except in North America: in strolling 
through the Piazza St. Marco they were met with in countless 
numbers, flying to and from the Ducal Palace and Church of 
St. Mark, where they have their nests, and where the young are 
seen on the ledges, and ensconced in the niches and amid the 
fretted and elaborate sculptured work. So tame are these pigeons 
that they flock by hundreds to be fed in this public square. I saw 
children feeding them, the pigeons running round and about them 
in the most fearless manner. There are a few variegated in 
plumage, but they are mostly of the blue rock-dove type. Though 
protected, and never shot or molested, the young must be 
taken, or there would be a plague of pigeons. On the 10th of 
September some hundreds of swallows and martins were seen at 
