BIBD NOTES FROM BREMBANA VALLEY, 13 



he observed it during 1897 and 1899 at the " Eoccolo " of Dos- 

 sena. Last year, at the end of October, he received five young 

 specimens, which, according to him, undoubtedly belonged to 

 that species. The Common Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra) is 

 resident and fairly abundant; it certainly breeds in the woods near 

 Piazzolo, according to the information of Dr. Giacomelli, who 

 has succeeded in finding nests several times. They were placed 

 upon the horizontal branches of some firs, from six to eight feet 

 from the trunk ; sometimes they were built on the top of the firs. 

 The Two-barred Crossbill [Loxia hifasciata) is very rare, and 

 certainly a straggler ; a specimen was caught at the Dossena 

 " Eioccolo " two years ago ; it was unfortunately eaten (Dr. Gia- 

 comelli's fides). The Common Starling {Stiirnus vulgaris^ v. 

 Stornell) is principally a passage-bird in these highlands, but 

 some couples remain during summer, and breed generally en the 

 trees. The Golden Oriole {Oriolus galbula, v. Galber) is toler- 

 ably common during summer, and breeding also near S. Giovanni 

 Bianco. I found several of them towards Brembilla (1274 ft.) 

 in the Brembilla Valley. 



Amongst the Corvidce, the Alpine Chough (Pyrrhocorax 

 alpinus, v. Tacola dal bee zald) is common; it does not live so 

 high as the Bed-billed Cbough (P. graculus), but, like the latter, 

 it nests and is resident. The latter (v. Tacola dal bee ross) is 

 fairly common, but a widely localized resident, and breeding 

 along all the Orobic watershed on Mount Eedorta (9154 ft.), 

 Mount Gleno (8785 ft.). Mount Venerecolo (7889 ft.), Pizzo 

 Tornello (8190 ft.), and sometimes, but not often, at the Ca 

 S. Marco (5583 ft.). They descend a little during winter. The 

 presence of this species in that province is not very extra- 

 ordinary, but authors seem always ignorant of the fact, though I 

 can vouch for it, as I had a nice adult male caught at Mount 

 Cavallo (7101 ft.) on Sept. 3rd, 1893; this is preserved in my 

 collection. We found the Carrion-Crow (Corvus corone) un- 

 common, but the Book (C. frugilegus) and the Hooded Crow 

 (C. comix) common ; they breed, and I found many of them 

 feeding in a meadow, on Aug. 20th last year, at the Corno Grosso 

 (4025 ft,) near Piazza Brembana. The Raven (0. corax) is 

 tolerably abundant on the highest mountains, from which it 

 descends in winter time ; and the Jackdaw (C. monedula) is very 



