4 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



Oneta (about 2000 ft.), owner Dr. Morali ; Roccolo Costa S. 

 Gallo (about 2500 ft.), owner Sign.Luiselli; Roccolo Ornica (about 

 2850 ft.), owner Sign. Gualteroni ; Roccolo of the Trinita, near 

 Dossena (about 3050 ft.); Roccolo Valbusa (about 4000 ft.), and 

 those, above Roncobello, which lie at about 4300 ft. It is very 

 difficult to ascertain how many birds are caught in a period of 

 about three months; we can say an enormous quantity, but envy, 

 diffidence, and other qualifications render an estimate difficult, 

 though it is certain that many " Roccoli " yearly capture several 

 thousands of small birds. Another matter which adds to the 

 difficulty of collecting birds is the quantity eaten by the inhabi- 

 tants. If the rich seek the delicate ones, the poor are satisfied 

 with anything; even Buzzards, Owls, and Woodpeckers are as 

 readily eaten by them as the Woodcock or the Capercaille ! 



The climate is neither very cold, nor very warm even in 

 summer; the snow is not continuous on the high mountains, but 

 only on some narrow northerly situated spots. 



The Brembana Valley, more than the rugged Seriana Valley, 

 offers to the traveller a greater variety and beauty in scenery, a 

 most luxuriant vegetation, and also, not to be despised, many 

 artistic treasures ; amongst which may be mentioned the pictures 

 of Palma il Vecchio and others, which are well-known to every- 

 body and everywhere. 



The Bearded Vulture (Gypaetus barhatus, v. Agola) lived in 

 these mountains in former years ; but is probably now extinct, 

 though a specimen was recently caught — I think between 1896 

 and 1897 — not very far from Camerata Cornello (1800 ft.). I 

 am quite sure about this fact, as I had the opportunity of seeing 

 and purchasing six well-preserved tail-feathers in the house of a 

 mountaineer, and these are preserved in my collection as a proof 

 of that occurrence. The feathered portion of them measures from 

 about ten to thirteen inches. I think, from the comparisons I made 

 with splendid specimens from Sardinia, they must have belonged to 

 a matured bird. People say that this species breeds not seldom 

 on the cliffs of Mount Legnone (8226 ft.), but I think that affir- 

 mation is absolutely incorrect. The species is represented in 

 Count Camozzi's local and well-known ornithological collection 

 at Ranica, near Bergamo ; but the two specimens came from 

 Valtellina (Sondrio), as my friend Count Cesare Camozzi-Vertova 



