53 Dr. Henry Giglioli on the Birds observed at Pisa 



bellied Swift [Cypselus melbus), which nestles in great numbers 

 along the Etruscan coast. During the first days of May, large 

 flocks of the common Bee-eater {Merops apiaster) passed over 

 this place, flying northwards. They continually betray their pre- 

 sence by their loud rolling whistle; but rarely stop near here, 

 unless in the olive-plantations at the foot of the Monte Pisano. 

 They appear, however, to breed not far from this place, as in 

 August I have met with the young birds in the Tombolo Forest. 

 Merops (Bgyptius, a few stragglers of which have been caught 

 at Genoa, has never been seen here. Upupa epopsis pretty com- 

 mon ; but its shy and retiring habits, no less than its noiseless- 

 ness, make it appear rarer than it really is. It arrives in April, 

 and may often be seen feeding on worms and grubs in the damp 

 fields along the Arno, About here I have observed the active 

 little Certhia familiaris very common ; and once or twice I have 

 had the opportunity of seeing the rarer and lovely Tichodroma 

 muraria displaying its bright rose-coloured wings on the rocks 

 of the Monte Pisano, near the Baths of San Giuliano. 



The small and sprightly Lusciniidce are very abundant in this 

 part of Italy. In the beginning of spring, when the reeds and 

 other marsh-plants are not yet grown, the tiny Cisticola schceni- 

 cola is constantly seen flying upwards over corn-fields, uttering 

 its cheerful song, and then diving down again amongst the green 

 wheat. Pseudoluscinia luscinioides (Savi) is pretty common ; 

 but it keeps to the thick willow-bushes which border the river, 

 and into them one must penetrate to observe it : it creeps about 

 the twigs and leaves just like the Phylloscopi. Calamodyta arun- 

 dinacea and Acrocephalus twdoides are abundant among the 

 reeds which border the Arno towards its mouth, and the loud 

 and laugh-like notes of the latter are constantly heard in such 

 situations ; while the rarer Calamodyta cettii and the Calamodus 

 melanopogon are to be seen, in the spring, among the tall reeds 

 {Arundo donax). I have found Thamnodus melanocephalus in 

 early spring, but it is rare ; it differs totally in song and habits 

 from the common Blackcap {Monachus atricapilla), which stops 

 with us all the winter. Epilais hortensis begins to be abundant in 

 the beginning of autumn ; it frequents fig-trees, and is the true 

 " Beccafico " of the Italians. Adophoneus curruca and A. orphea 



