MEDITERRANEAN NOTES 169 



me that the hemipode {Turnix sylvatica)* is very common 

 in certain parts of the south coast of Sicily. He showed 

 me a falcon about which he was doubtful, which I consider 

 undoubtedly a specimen of the true lanner (F. lanarius, 

 Schlegel).+ It very much resembles some of those which I 

 obtained the year before last from Mogador ; it was killed 

 near Palermo. He gave me some interesting particulars 

 of the ornithology of Ustica and Pantellaria, from the 

 latter of which he has just returned. Marmora's warbler 

 {Sylvia sarda) is very common there, and in Ustica a falcon 

 breeds, which must I expect be F. eieomra. The lammer- 

 geier [Gypaetus barbatus^ and griffon vulture {Gyps fulvus) 

 are not uncommon in Sicily. Caccabis graca is the only- 

 partridge, and the red-rumped swallow {Hirundo rufuld) is 

 by no means rare. I had no time to go into the subject 

 of bats and reptiles, and must, if possible, go again." 



'■'■ May i^ih. Saw many bee-eaters and some woodchats 

 at the Favorita." 



'■^ May i6(h. Several swallows came about us in the 

 gale, and a poor turtle-dove got knocked into the sea 

 by our mainsail." 



" May ijth. During the day we had a wood shrike 

 {Lanius rufus), a swift {Cypselus apus), some dozen of 



* One of a group of quails known as ' bustard-quails.' The hind 

 toe is absent in this group. (See Presidential Address, p. 39.) 

 t The Saker. (Gen/ma sacer or lanarius.) 



