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of Nordmann’s Pratincole in Italy. 
merganser , and Gelochelidon anglica, all species most difficult 
to obtain here. 
Lately he has sent me examples of Cyanecula suecica , 
Plectrophanes lapponicus , and Actodromas temmincki (in 
full winter dress), Totanus fuscus <$ $ (in full summer 
dress), Hydrocolceus melanocephalus 6 $ (in full summer 
dress), Rissa tridactyla , and three beautiful Pratincoles, 
among which one was labelled d, G. prat incola, May 5th, 
1892, Pila rice-fields, near Bagnolo (Lonigo) 
On first seeing this bird I took no especial notice of it, but 
I was afterwards impressed by the fact that it was different 
from the common Pratincoles, because the forehead and lores 
were jet-black. Then I examined the under-surface of the 
wing, and I found that it was quite black. Undoubtedly 
I had before me a real specimen of Nordmann’s Pratincole. 
I must say that I was greatly astonished at this fact, which 
had remained unrecognized for seven years ! But at the 
same time it is so certain that no doubt whatever can 
arise about it. In the first place, Mr. Gianese is a good, 
careful, and honest man; he knows our birds only from 
experience, principally acquired by his passion for shooting 
and fowling; besides, his own collection is entirely composed 
of birds shot in his district, generally by himself, and all 
skinned and stuffed from the flesh by himself. As a last, 
but not the least, argument, I dare say if he had been aware 
of the real importance of this specimen, he would not have 
sent it me as Glareola pratincola, and charged me only four 
francs for it. 
The differences between G. pratincola and G. melanoptera 
consist mainly in the latter having the axillaries and under 
wing-coverts not of a lively chestnut colour, but black, the 
upper parts darker, and the green glossy tint more developed, 
the secondaries uniformly coloured, and not tipped with white, 
the under-surface of the body paler, but the flanks darker. 
Besides, in my specimen the throat is whiter or less ochreous, 
the hinder neck is more rusty, the head is very dark, almost 
black on the forehead, and between the eye and bill there is 
a broad black band, which forms a very large spot embracing 
the fore part of the eye, while in G. pratincola the forehead 
