THE IBIS. 



TENTH SERIES. 



Vol. V. No. 3. JULY 1917. 



XVII. — Notes on the Ornithology of Malta. 

 By G. Despott, M.B.O.U. 



Introduction. 

 The Maltese islands are situated at a distance o£ about 

 60 miles to the south of Sicily and 180 miles to the north 

 of Africa. They consist of a group of small islands running 

 from north-west to south-east for a distance of 29 miles. 



Malta, which is the largest island of the group, is 

 17^ miles long and 8^ miles broad, covering an area of 

 95 square miles ; in shape it is an irregular oval, having the 

 aspect of an inclined plane, rising abruptly from the sea on 

 the south and gradually sinking into the waters towards the 

 north and east. Here the coast is deeply indented with 

 several fine bays and good harbours ; on the southern 

 precipitous part, however, no landing can be effected 

 except at two or three very restricted points, which can 

 be approached only in very small crafts. 



Gozo comes next in size to Malta, and lies to the north- 

 west of it ; its length is 8f miles, its breadth 4j, occupying 

 an area of 20 square miles. The coast of this island is in 

 elevation much more irregular than that of Malta, as sloping- 

 land often interrupts the precipitously rising coast. The 

 island has no real harbour, and with the exception of the 



SER. X. — VOL. V, U 



