BIBD NOTES FROM BBEMBANA VALLEY. 9 



winter. The Nuthatch {Sitta ccBsia, v. Pic cender) is abundant. 

 The Wall Creeper {Tichodi^oma muraria, v. Barbel, Beca corne, 

 Becaragn, Pic de corne) is a fairly abundant species ; it breeds 

 on the Cancervo and everywhere in the high districts, but not 

 above 5200 ft. The two Certhice (Tree-Creeper, v. Kampeghi) 

 are met with ; Certhia familiaris seems to be the commoner. 

 The Wren {Troglodytes parvulus, v. Eeati, Trentapis) is common 

 and resident ; it breeds everywhere on the mountains. The 

 Dipper {Cinclus merula, v. Merell acquerol) is met with where- 

 ever in the adapted localities ; I have not seen the northern form 

 called the Black-bellied Dipper (C. melanog aster) , but I suc- 

 ceeded in finding the Dipper up to 4500 ft. above the sea. The 

 Hedge- Sparrow (Accentor modularis, v. Matela) is met with, 

 and breeds everywhere; while the Alpine Accentor {A. collaris 

 V. Materot, Materass) is fairly common, and breeding, from 

 4500 to 7600 ft. ; I obtained specimens from Somnadello and 

 Cancerbero ; in winter it comes lower; it breeds on the tops of 

 the shanties of shepherds. The Thrushes are represented by 

 the Blackbird (Merula nigra, v. Merell), very common ; the 

 two forms of Ring Ouzel {M. torquata and M. alpestris, v. Merla 

 montana) are frequent ; Dr. Giacomelli told me that the northern 

 form is commoner, but I doubt it ; all three breed, and also the 

 Song-Thrush {Tardus musicus, v. Durt), of which I have suc- 

 ceeded in having a nestling from the Passo del Branchino 

 (5628 ft.). The Fieldfare {T. pilaris, v. Visc-iera) is only a 

 winter visitor, and a bird of passage, while the Mistle-Thrush 

 {T. viscivorus, v. Dressa) is resident ; while so far there are no 

 proofs of the breeding of the Redwing {T. iliacus v. Sdurdi) in 

 these highlands. I have no notice regarding the other rare 

 species of Italian Thrushes, but certainly the Dusky-Thrush 

 {T. fuscatus), and perhaps the Black-throated Thrush {T. atri- 

 gularis), must be met with as stragglers. I preserve in my col- 

 lection an adult male of the former, which was caught at Breno, 

 a few miles from Bergamo, and not very far from the beginning 

 of the Brembana Valley.* The Rock- Thrush {Monticola saxa- 

 tilis, V. Cueross) is a common bird, summer visitor, and breeding. 

 The Blue Rock-Thrush {M. cyanus) is particularly abundant in 



* E. Arrigoni degli Oddi, "II Turdus fuscatus nel Bergumasco " (Eiv, 

 Ital. Sc. Nat. xiii. No. 9, Siena, 1893J. 



