Birds. 4249 



Notes on the Birds of Italy and Sicily, made in 1853. 



Having observed a list of the birds noticed by Mr. Sclater, in the 

 market at Rome, in your last number (Zool. 4160), I am induced 

 to send some remarks on the birds which I either saw, or procured, 

 in Italy and Sicily, during the early part of last year. There are, as 

 Mr. Sclater justly observes, very few birds to be seen on the Conti- 

 nent, unless long rambles are taken among the mountains and valleys, 

 where many rare and shy birds may be seen. I frequently went i th 

 the cacciatori (fowlers) who know their haunts, and from whom may 

 often be collected much interesting information. 



I was very sorry to have spent only five weeks in Sicily, as I think 

 it is one of the most interesting places in Europe for Ornithology ; its 

 extensive ranges of mountains being an asylum to the birds from the 

 unrelenting cacciatori, who allow them no rest in the plains and 

 gardens. 



I was at Rome in May, which is too late in the season, there being 

 most in the market during March and the beginning of April ; I pro- 

 cured, however, several rare birds. 



I believe that there is no bird-stuffer either in Rome or Florence, 

 and only one in Naples ; but there is a very good one in Genoa, where 

 all the birds of Liguria may be obtained. I did not pay so much 

 attention to the Sylviadae and smaller birds as I did to the Raptores. 



The species marked with an asterisk have not been observed in the 

 British Isles. 



*Vultur cinereus. This vulture is occasionally procured in Sicily. 



*Aquila brachydactylus. I skinned two specimens at Rome : in 

 the throat of one of them was a snake four and a half feet long. I 

 also saw several soaring over the Campagna. I bought two at Genoa ; 

 they are common in Liguria, in the spring. 



*Falco Eleonorae. It is sometimes met with in Italy and Sicily. 



*Falco tinnunculoides. I procured one specimen at Messina, and 

 hope to obtain three more from the same place. It is rather rare in 

 Sicily. 



Falco rufipes. I skinned three at Rome. When I was at Tivoli, I 

 saw a pair of these beautiful hobbies, which had their nest on a tall 

 poplar; they circled over my head, uttering loud shrieks. I pro- 

 cured several in Sicily, where, they are generally common, though 

 occasionally very rare. 



Pernis apivorus. I skinned a beautiful specimen at Rome. 

 XII. O 



