2 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



which he gives very shortly the local and scientific names of the 

 birds, and some remarks as to their frequency, which I suspect 

 are not always satisfactory. Beyond the above-mentioned litera- 

 ture we possess nothing else. 



There is no doubt that, for ornithology, this is one of the 

 most famous amongst the Italian Provinces. Its position, the 

 abundance of streams, springs, and rivers, its thick woods, and 

 elevated mountains are very suitable for birds of passage, and the 

 quantity of them caught, by all kinds of devices, and brought to 

 the markets is enormous. My esteemed friend the Rev. H. A. 

 Macpherson has written very fully on this point in his well-known 

 book.* Amongst the rarest birds which have appeared here 

 and which aiford an idea of the real importance that Bergamo 

 holds in the Italian Provinces, I may mention Gypaetus barbatus 

 GlaucicUum passerinum, Turdus fuscatus, Loxia bijasciata, Pini- 

 cola enucleator, all of which are very seldom seen in the Italian 

 sub-region. 



Having spent some time in the Brembana Valley, one of the 

 finest of this Province, I thought it might be useful and interest- 

 ing to publish some notes about these places, which I believe are 

 amongst the most unknown spots to ornithologists. In my 

 researches I have been greatly helped by an intelligent but modest 

 person. Dr. Peter Giacomelli, chemist, of S. Giovanni Bianco. 

 He has lived there the last four years, having been obliged to 

 leave his fatherland, Rovereto in Trentino, on account of unfor- 

 tunate political questions witli Austria. Before this he had been 

 acclaimed in both natural sciences and chemistry at the celebrated 

 University of Innsbruck ; while he knows very well indeed many 

 branches of our science. In order to collect minerals, for which 

 he has an especial inclination, he made many trips and ascensions 

 here and there, and we may say that he is now acquainted with 

 ever5'thing that appears or lies in these beautiful places. I 

 obtained from him all the local names, and much of the infor- 

 mation I am now giving ; so I have the pleasure of declaring 

 here how deeply I am indebted to him for his kindness in helping 

 me so much and so well. 



The Brembana Valley t is the widest and the most picturesque 



-•■ ' History of Fowling.' Edinburgh, 1887. 



f Club Alpino Italiano, ' Prealpi Bergamasche,' p. 116 and follow. 

 Milauo, 1900. 



