Mr. C. A. Wright on Birds observed in Malta and Gozo. 223 



" fixed bayonets." Their visits used to be repeated at in- 

 tervals of every fifteen or twenty minutes. The drake never 

 went into the hole ; and I am therefore inclined to believe 

 that he does not lend his aid in the performance of the 

 duties of incubation. 



The greatest number of eggs laid by the Goslet, of which I 

 have a record, is twelve. This nest was taken by Mr. Spry 

 at Budaon in August last. The hole occupied was at no great 

 height ; but it was 3^ feet deep, and only large enough to 

 admit of ingress and egress ; the contents had to be removed 

 by means of an iron spoon something like a soup-ladle with 

 an extra-long handle. 



The eggs are obtusely pointed ovals, and certainly large 

 for the size of the bird; they measure l'7x 1*3 inch, and in 

 shape and colour are exactly similar to those of the Whistling 

 Teal. 



XXVII. — Fifth Appendix to a List of Birds observed in Malta 

 and Gozo^. By Charles A. Wright, C.M.Z.S. 



269. Saxicola leucopyga, Brehm; vel Saxicola leucoce- 

 phala, Brehm. 



At length I am able to add an entirely new bird to the 

 a\ifauna of Europe. I allude to Saxicola leucopyga, which, 

 before the advent of the specimen now under notice, had not 

 been observed on the European continent or any of its ad- 

 jacent islands. It was shot on the 18th of April, 1872, by 

 Signor Vitali, a public weigher of Her Majesty's Customs, 

 on some rocky ground, called Tal capucini, on the south side 

 of the Grand Harbour, in the Cotonnera district. It was set 

 up by Signor Francesco Ellul, and came into my hands im- 

 mediately afterwards. The head, nape, and ramp are pure 

 white ; the tail white, slightly marked with brown towards 

 the extremities of the feathers, except the two central feathers, 

 which are dark brown. The rest of the plumage is silky 

 black or very dark brown. There is no doubt now, I be- 

 lieve, of the identity of this bird with Saxicola leucopyga. 

 * For Fourth Appendix see Ibis, 1870. p. 4-^8, et seq. 



r2 



