observed in the Islands of Malta and Gozo. 53 



{Passer salicicola) and Passer domesticus (not found in Malta), Sir 

 William Jardine observes, in the letter above quoted : — 



" Pyrgita domestica, so far as I have yet seen, is distinct from 

 the above. The females are easily distinguished from each 

 other ; and the males in some states, and when vievi^ed in cer- 

 tain positions only, cannot be easily separated. I have placed 

 three specimens before me on their backs, two British and one 

 Maltese, and in that position they appear exactly similar ; but 

 when turned with the back uppermost, you never find in P. 

 domestica the base of the feathers of the centre of the crown of 

 the deep chestnut of the Maltese species, although that part in 

 the latter may be almost as grey from the long tips of the feathers 

 covering the chestnut. The deep-chestnut head and dashes of 

 black on the breast and flanks indicate the breeding-state. In 

 winter specimens (Nov.), the crown, &c., appears nearly grey 

 until the feathers are separated, when the chestnut appears. 

 The Malta Sparrow is equal to that of the South of Europe, 

 and seems to represent that of North Europe — our P. domestica, 

 and has as good claims to be a species as nine-tenths of the 

 birds that are acknowledged. It does not appear you have P. 

 domestica at all in Malta, and of course there can be no inter- 

 breeding." 



I must observe, however, that Passer domesticus is, notwith- 

 standing, a common bird further south than Malta, as I have 

 seen several specimens killed by Dr. Leith Adams, and others 

 by Mr. S. Stafford Allen, in Egypt, and Capt. Loche includes 

 it in his Birds of Algeria. Mr. Medlycott writes to me from 

 Gibraltar that he found it there, and did not see P. salicicola. 



40. Passer montanus. (Tree Sparrow.) 



I know of only one specimen having been taken, many years 

 ag-o, and which is now in the collection of Signor Schcmbri. 

 He begs me to correct an error he fell into, in saying that this 

 species bred in Malta. 



41. Passer petronia. (Rock Sparrow.) 



It is only at long intervals of time that a bird of this species 

 is met with here. I obtained one, which was taken alive on the 

 23rd November, 1863j it died after about a month's confinement. 



