observed in the Islands of Malta and Gozo. 149 



appears in May, August, and September ; but I have shot it in 

 December. 



197. HiMANTOPUS MELANOPTERUS. (Stilt.) 



Fra-servient, Maltese. 



Not uncommon in March and April, and reappears in Sep- 

 tember and October. 



198. Recurvirostra avocetta. (Avocet.) 

 Scifa, Maltese. 



Very rare. When seen, it has generally been in April and 

 May. There are two specimens in the University Museum, 

 which were shot many years ago. I have a specimen, a female, 

 shot at the Salini, out of a party of three, on the 7th November 

 1860. One of the two others, a tine male, was afterwards killed 

 at the same place, and another in the spring of 1862. 



199. Ph(enicopterus roseus. (Flamingo.) 

 Fiamingu, Maltese. 



Merely an accidental visitor. When seen, it has generally 

 been in June. One was shot in 1860, in May. 



The Flamingo is very common on the lagoons and inland 

 lakes of Barbary, particularly on the lagoon of Tunis, where I 

 shot two in March 1859. I know of no more striking sight 

 than the flight of a large number of these extraordinary-looking 

 birds, of which it is no unusual thing to see as many as five or 

 six hundred or even a thousand together. Their long legs and 

 necks stretched out to their fullest extent, with an African 

 sun shining on their white bodies and crimson wings, form a 

 spectacle which, once witnessed, must ever remain deeply 

 impressed on the mind. They are exceedingly shy, and it was 

 only by pursuing them for several days in a sailing-boat, and 

 using a heavy charge of powder and pistol-bullets, that I 

 finally succeeded in obtaining the specimens alluded to. 



200. Rallus aquaticus. (Water Rail.) 

 Gallotz-ta-scitua (Winter Rail), Maltese. 



Not very common. Spring and autumn, and a few in the 

 winter months. 



201. Rallus crex. (Corn Crake.) 

 Gallotz-ta-Germania, Maltese. 



