observed in the Islands of Malta and Gozo. 51 



34. Pyrrhula githaginea. (Vinous Grosbeak.) 

 Trumbettier , Maltese. 



A few of these birds are taken annually, generally from Octo- 

 ber to March. One was caught in the last week of October 

 I860, and another in November 1862. It soon becomes very 

 tame in captivity. Its note is like the sound of a penny trum- 

 pet, from which it derives its Maltese name. 



35. Pyrrhula erythrina. (Scarlet Grosbeak.) 

 Schembri records the capture of two examples on the 25th 



December, 1839, under the name of Fringilki incerta — a pseudo 

 species, now recognized as the young of P. erythrina. 



36. Pyrrhula serinus. (Serin Finch.) 

 Apparell, Maltese. 



Very common in October, and stays the winter. Often kept 

 as a cage-bird, and crosses with the Canary. Its joyous song- 

 may be heard in places where there are trees. The note is 

 louder than the Siskin's, and more vociferous, as if several in- 

 dividuals were joining in concert. 



37. Coccothraustes vulgaris. (Hawfinch.) 

 Ghasfur-ta-Zehbug, Maltese. 



November and December. Pretty common in some years, 

 rare in others. 



38. Chlorospiza chloris. (Greenfinch.) 

 Verdun, Maltese. 



Common in flocks in the winter. I have never seen the 

 North-African Greenfinch (C. aurantiiventris) in Malta. 



39. Passer salicicola. (Spanish Sparrow*.) 

 Ghasfur-tal-beit, Maltese. 



It appears to me doubtful whether the birds known as the Spa- 

 nish and Italian Sparrows are sufficiently distinct to be considered 

 separate species. The principal diff"erencc recognized by authors, 



* The specific term hispaniolensis given by Temminck to this SpaiTow 

 is very objectionable, Hispaniola being a term usually applied to the island 

 of St. Domingo, not to Spain. Again, I have never seen this form in Spain, 

 and I do not believe it occurs there. The ordinary Sparrow of Spain is cer- 

 tainly P. domesticus. On the other hand, Vieillot's term salicicola, used 

 in Bonaparte's Conspectus, combines the two mwits of priority and appli- 

 cability. — Ed. 



E 2 



