Ettore Arrigoni degli Oddi

“ The number of Black Kites that every year arrive at Grezzano, breeding in companies in the wood, varies from forty to fifty birds. I think that the number given me by the inhabitants of that country must be exaggerated when they say that it amounts to two hundred birds. In 1892 the Rev. Carcereri shot as many as twenty-five Black Kites; but in the following years, 1893-96, only three or four fell to his gun. From what I have been able to observe, it is not easy to kill successive individuals, for the birds are very wary, and after the first few shots they soar very high ”

“ It is not a common species, but perhaps resident in Italy, in all parts of which a few individuals have been taken. Salvadori, T. [6] : A summer bird, but rare; it has nested in some localities. Martorelli, G. [7] : "The Black Kite cannot be said to be common in any part of Italy, though it breeds in some localities.... It is much more easily found in our country in the fine than in the bad season, and it is therefore a summer bird, and one of passage." Continuing, the author says that Giglioli had five examples of the Black Kite, caught at one and the same time at Lanzo. ”

“ The male does not share the duty of incubation, but flies continually round his mate at a very great pace, and, unless disturbed, he continues to wheel gently around the eyrie. If he is aware of anyone's presence, he rises high in the air, flying round in wide circles, as though desirous of touching the tops of the highest trees, but always keeps out of shot, and, if shot at, he rises still higher; if he is left alone, he slowly descends again. ”

“ The Black Kite (Milvus migrans, Boddaert) [1] has, until now, been considered a bird rarely seen in any part of Italy, occurring in some places as a rare straggler, and almost unknown; in others as a breeding species, but without becoming permanently established. ”

“ The Black Kite is almost always in pursuit of prey during the day, but is most frequently seen flying about the wood at mid-day and towards evening. It soars so high that it is sometimes scarcely visible, but seems to be a Swallow, and continues wheeling about in circles, or resting suspended upon the expanded wings for some minutes ”

“ Irby in Spain, Favier in Morocco, and Count Allèon at Constantinople have observed that Black Kites migrate in numerous troops. As soon as they arrive, they set about constructing their nests, which they build new every year. They have never been known to take possession of those of Herons or Crows, which are so abundant in those regions, and with these birds they seem to live in peace. Their nest is ready about the 10th of May, and they take twenty days to build it. They generally breed only in the wood ”

“ I have also in two notes spoken about some abnormal coloured specimens of birds and hybrids preserved in the Museum of Bergamo; and, finally, the Rev. Caffi [3] published, in a pamphlet, the Ornithological Dictionary of the Province, in 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 literature we possess nothing else.
There is no doubt that, for ornithology, this is one of the most famous amongst the Italian Provinces. ”

“ Both breed everywhere on the mountains. Dr. Giacomelli assures me that the Red-legged Partridge (C. rufa) is also found in the province, sometimes in the Brembana Valley, but especially in the Valley of Scalve on the highest mountains. I have not succeeded so far in getting any specimen of this species, which is on the way of becoming extinct in many parts of Italy; in Tuscany and in the Elba Island it also becomes every year more and more rare.
Grallatores and Anseres, in the Brembana Valley properly called, are almost absent, or irregular and straggler visitors ”

“ Amongst the Buteoninæ, the Rough-legged Buzzard (Archibuteo lagopus) is very rare; it has appeared only on the most frigid days of severe winters, and I saw the remains of a specimen caught on Mount Azzarini (7307 ft.) in January, 1898. The Honey Buzzard is very rare also. The Buzzard is met with everywhere, but not found very high; while the Long-legged Buzzard (Buteo ferox) is till now unknown. The Black Kite (Milvus ater, v. niblet, nèbel) is rare, but a breeding species ”

“ Like other birds of prey (Circus æruginosus, C. cyaneus, Buteo vulgaris, &c.) , the Black Kite feeds its young at more or less regular hours; that is, according to what the Rev. Carcereri says, in the morning from about 9 to 11 a.m., and in the evening one or two hours before sunset. I have commonly observed this fact with C. æruginosus, which also feeds its young ones with chickens, and which breeds regularly in the marshes of Monselice. ”

“ It is difficult to reach the nest, which is always situated at a great height, involving a perilous climb. The Black Kite exhibits great affection for its young, which are fed by both the male and female parents. Young chickens are their favourite food, being plentiful in the country. ”

“ 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. atrigularis) , must be met with as stragglers. I preserve in my collection 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. [8] The Rock-Thrush (Monticola saxatilis, V. Cueròss) is a common bird, summer visitor, and breeding. The Blue Rock-Thrush (M. cyanus) is particularly abundant in rocky parts of Taleggio Valley at Vedeseta (2490 ft.) ”

“ Here I desire to acknowledge my indebtedness to the Marquis of Canossa, of Verona, for his kindness in allowing me to go to Grezzano, for sending me some specimens, and for supplying me with information; I must likewise return thanks to the Rev. Don Pietro Carcereri. He is very fond of sport, and an intelligent observer and has diligently studied the habits and life-history of the Black Kite; he has sent me several notes, which I have found most useful. Grezzano wood is about an hour and a half's drive from Verona, beyond Villafranca. ”

“ In the Brembana Valley and its mountains small resident birds do not greatly abound; one may walk about all day long without finding a single example; but during the migrations birds are very common, and then there are flocks of a hundred specimens and more. ”

“ At the conclusion the late proposed law of Minister Baccelli was fully discussed with regard to the teaching of natural history in secondary schools, and a motion was carried that the actual hours for study of natural history teaching, and particularly of zoology, be maintained as they are; that the same teaching be given only and exclusively by the Doctors in Natural Science, and it was decided that this be communicated to all the Natural History Societies of Italy, and afterwards communicated to the Ministry. ”

“ But this only occurs when they are young; in the second year of their age they make it larger. Goebel also says that the nest is very small, and that very often the head and tail of the sitting bird can be seen on every side of the nest. The height of the nest from the ground varies from about twenty-five to thirty metres; it is seldom lower. It consists of stout twigs strongly interlaced, ill-connected, but intertwined, and secured to the branch, from which the nest stands out like a bundle of wood. ”

“ That, however, in our case is not very important, because it is rather difficult to find a very rare water or shore bird in those districts, though we may easily meet other species, as Dunlins, Sandpipers, Water-Rails, Crakes, Coots, Gulls, Terns, Grebes, &c., which are not uncommon in the neighbouring open plain, where they can live at their ease. ”

“ The Raven (C. corax) is tolerably abundant on the highest mountains, from which it descends in winter time; and the Jackdaw (C. monedula) is very common. Both are resident and breeding. The Jay (Garrulus glandarius) and the Magpie are common and resident, and so is the Nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes) , which is perhaps not very abundant, and which lives particularly in the thickest woods.
The Turtle-Dove (Turtur communis) is a summer visitor, but not very frequent; it breeds. ”

“ The wood is composed of plane trees, elms, oaks, poplars, chestnuts, &c, the greatest height of which may be about forty metres; it has a flourishing appearance, and the vegetation is splendid, but there are no firs. ”

“ Another matter which adds to the difficulty of collecting birds is the quantity eaten by the inhabitants. 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. ”

“ They choose tall trees that reach a height of from thirty to forty metres, and build their nests on the fork of the thickest branches, perhaps for safety, so that the wind may not blow them down from such a height. They are large and easily noticed from the ground, and the bird hatches without being seen ”

“ Many Italian zoologists approved of so useful and opportune an intention, and at the opening of the meeting in the Municipal Hall of Pavia several were present.
The President in the chair was Prof. P. Pavesi, a man dear to science and his friends, who is at the same time an illustrious naturalist, an appreciated politician, and now Mayor of Pavia. ”

“ This concluded the meeting. On the same day a tablet was unveiled to the memory of that celebrated naturalist, Spallanzani, with a very masterly speech, delivered by Prof. Pavesi. A dinner afterwards took place.
To illustrate the real importance of a Zoological Union in any country is unnecessary. It certainly does not need any words, and every Italian naturalist will be grateful to Prof. Pavesi and his friends for this step. ”

“ The Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (D. minor) is not at all rare, and I have secured in former years a great many specimens for my collection. The Wryneck (Iynx torquilla, v. Becaförmig) is a common summer visitor; it does not breed above about 4900 or 5200 ft. The Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus, v. Cucù) is a pretty common species during summer; it nests according to its usual method, but it is not found generally above 3000 ft. The Roller (Coracias garrula) and the Bee-eater (Merops apiaster) are stragglers. The Hoopoe (Upupa epops) is a fairly abundant species, not breeding above 5200 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. ”

“ Collection Bennati, of Verona, two specimens. (g) My own collection, eight specimens. Besides these twenty specimens, the Rev. Carcereri had several birds, which he killed himself, stuffed by Dal Nero, which he then gave to his friends.
The Black Kite is a species which varies very little in its dress. When young, the colours are darker and brighter than when at full maturity. The Rev. Carcereri informs me that almost all those he killed resembled one another. As for size, the female is always larger than the male. ”

“ They can be caught more easily when they have young ones. This species is commonly called Poja negra or P. mora by the inhabitants of Grezzano, and those who kill any Black Kites are blessed by the country people, for they see that the risk of their chickens being carried off is thus reduced. The following is a list of those collections that include Black Kites killed at Grezzano:—
(a) Collection Perini, of Verona, two specimens. (b) Count Brasavola, of Verona, two specimens. (c) Count Reali, of Treviso, two specimens. (d) Collection Cipolla, of Verona, three specimens. ”

“ Giglioli speaks of an adult male which he had from the neighbourhood of Turin, May 15th, 1886.
Lombardia.—Monti states that the Black Kite is rare at Como; he notes a specimen from Lugano. Messrs. Prada, Mazza, and Pavesi record this species from the Province of Pavia; Zanni and Bettoni record it for Brescia; Paglia records it for Mantovano; Ferragni for Cremona; Carlini does not record it for Valtellina; Pavesi excludes it from the region of Tessin, but Riva [8] had previously recorded a single specimen. ”

“ 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. ”

“ Pianeti, from Camerata Cornello, a most celebrated hunter and shooter, kills from one hundred to one hundred and thirty of them every year in two months' shooting. They cost, on the market, from eighteenpence to two shillings each, according to the weight; very old specimens weigh about two pounds, and they are greatly sought for their excellent flesh. Partridges commonly cost about eighteenpence each. ”