The following are the principal opinions of our ornithologists as to the appearance of the Black Kite in Italy: —
Italy generally.—Salvadori, T.[1]: This Kite is rare in Italy; still there is scarcely a province in which it has not been found, and it has even bred in several places. Savi, P.[2]: "It is very rare in almost every part of Italy," &c. He says that it lives constantly along the Riviera di Levante on the mountains. Giglioli[3]: A rare species in Italy, but it has been found in small numbers everywhere in the central and southern regions, in which it has also bred, &c. Idem[4]: It is not a common species, but perhaps resident in Italy, in all parts of which a few individuals have been taken. Salvadori, T.[5]: A summer bird, but rare; it has nested in some localities. Martorelli, G.[6]: "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. I cannot tell how Martorelli could have made such a blunder, for the renowed Professor of Florence says:—"In the Central Italian collection I have eight specimens, caught at Lanzo (October), Nice (December), Genoa (July), Florence (autumn), Terracina (April, May); so that the eight specimens were taken in the five above-mentioned localities. This species is not cited as Italian in the 'Storia Naturale degli Uccelli.'
Piemonte.—It is omitted by Bonelli; considered rather rarer than Milvus ictinus by Camusso. 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
- ↑ Faun, d'Italia, ii. Uccelli, p. 13 (1872).
- ↑ Orn. Toscana, vol. i. p. 38 (1827).
- ↑ Elenco, p. 40 (1881).
- ↑ Avif. Ital. n. 245, p. 248 (1886).
- ↑ Elenco Ucc. Ital. p. 47 (1887).
- ↑ Monogr. Ucc. Rap. d'Ital. p. 116 (1895).
an Italian species; he only adds, like Brisson, "Mures et Locustas in agris inquirit; Pullos tamen Avium adhuc volandi impotentes avidissime rapit."
