140 Mr. C. A. Wright's List of the Birds 



addition to shooting, are adopted for catching these birds. A 

 few breed here in March. Some of these are also caught by 

 imitating the call-note of the female, and so drawing the males, 

 which are the first to arrive, into nets spread on the standing 

 corn. A few solitary birds are to be found throughout the winter. 



144. Otis tarda. (Bustard.) 

 Pittmrun, Maltese. 



Rare; every two or three years one or two are shot, chiefly 

 in Gozo. It has also been obtained at Marfa (the N.W. ex- 

 tremity of Malta) and in the Valley of Naxiar. Since 1857 I 

 have known of the capture of five individuals. In the autumn 

 of 1862, I was forestalled in the purchase of a fine male in the 

 market by the Governor's purveyor, who had just secured it for 

 Prince Alfred's dinner. 



145. Otis tetrax. (Little Bustard.) 

 Pittarra, Maltese. 



Rare ; but perhaps rather less so than the preceding species. 

 One, a female, was shot in October 1862. 



146. Otis houbara. (Ruffed Bustard.) 



Quite accidental. About twenty years ago a male specimen 

 was obtained, during a storm. 



147. CuRSORius europjEUS. (Cream-coloured Courser.) 

 Rare, although few years pass without some being taken. 



I have seen specimens shot in March, April, and May. It is 

 said to appear also in July, August, and September. The 

 natives very inappropriately call it Pluviera ta VInghilterra 

 (English Plover). 



148. CEdicnemus crepitans. (Thick-knee.) 

 Tellerita, Maltese. 



Common in spring and autumn, until the end of November. 

 Breeds here, in June and July, on the barren rocks in the uncul- 

 tivated parts of the island, particularly about Marfa. Occa- 

 sionally seen late in the winter. May be almost considered 

 resident. 



149. Charadrius pluvialis. (Golden Plover.) 

 Pluviera, Maltese. 



