observed in the Islands of Malta and Gozo. 49 



23. Falco cenchris. (Lesser Kestrel.) 



Spagnolett, adult male ; Seker, female and young, Maltese. 



Not uncommon in April and May, and passes sometimes in 

 flocks of nearly a hundred ; but is not so often seen as F. tinnun- 

 culus. I have also obtained it in autumn. 



24. Strix psilodactyla. (Sparrow-Owl.) 

 Kokka, Maltese. 



Merely accidental. Specimens obtained in Malta were sent 

 by Signor Schembri to the late Prince Charles Lucien Bonaparte, 

 and determined by that eminent naturalist. But we cannot help 

 thinking that there must have been some confusion here in the 

 nomenclature, and that the specimens were more probably ^^Aene 

 noctua, var. meridionalis. 



25. Strix flammea. (Barn Owl.) 

 Barbagianni, Maltese. 



A few of these birds are to be seen at all seasons, for the most 

 part about the battlements of Valletta and the Three Cities, 

 where they breed in the ruined walls. Fresh arrivals appear to 

 take place in spring and autumn. They are sometimes observed 

 to strike at fish, like an Osprey. 



26. Strix brachyotus. (Short-eared Owl.) 

 Omm-issubien, Maltese. 



Very common in spring and autumn, and has been known to 

 breed here. Individuals are taken throughout the winter, when 

 the plumage generally becomes of a lighter hue, mixed with 

 white ; in one specimen the under parts were almost pure white. 



27. Strix otus, (Long-eared Owl.) 



Looking over some skins collected in Malta by Dr. Leith 

 Adams, 22nd Regiment, I observed one of these birds ticketed 

 "Malta, 12th October 1861." He kindly gave it to me, and I 

 have much pleasure in recording this species, I believe for the 

 first time, as a visitor to Malta. There is a specimen in the 

 Malta University Museum, probably taken in this island, but no 

 locality is mentioned. 



28. Strix scops. (Scops Owl.) 

 Kokka, Maltese. 



Very plentiful in the seasons of its migrations, and by far the 



VOL. VI. E 



