282 Mr. G. Despott on the [Ibis, 



inlets of Migiarro, Mgar, Xini, Xlendi, and Duejra on the 

 south and west, and Marsalforno facing the north, the others 

 are nothing more than very open bays. 



Between Malta and Gozo lies the little island of Comino, 

 at a distance of about half a mile from the latter and 

 one mile or so from the former ; it occupies an area of 

 only one square mile. 



Cominotto is only divided by a few yards' stretch of water 

 from Comino, and Filfla lies at a distance of three miles 

 off the south coast of Malta. Both these two islets may be 

 practically considered nothing more than mere rocks; the 

 second, however, is of some importance to the ornithologist, 

 it being the chief breeding-station of our Shearwaters and 

 Petrels, which a few years ago literally swarmed over this 

 rock. 



Besides the islets just mentioned, several other minor 

 ones are scattered around the coast of both Malta and Gozo, 

 but these are of no importance whatever from an ornitho- 

 logical point of view. 



The climate of Malta is assuredly healthy, and though 

 hot in summer is by no means tropical, as it has at times 

 been stated ; the winter can be compared to one of the 

 milder northern springs. 



No river, lake, or, in fact, any perennial water is to 

 be found in these islands ; consequently, no exuberant 

 vegetation is to be observed. In consequence of this, and 

 having moreover hundreds of guns and nets ever ready for 

 any migrants, it is only natural that very few birds would 

 consent to make these islands their home. 



The chief trees met with here are the carob, fig, almond 

 pomegranate, olive, orange, lemon, and Japanese medlar; 

 prickly pears arc also ai)undant. The carob trees are usuallv 

 selected by our lew breeding Warblers wherein to construct 

 their nest, though some of these build also in several of 

 the smaller trees. The Woodchat also seems to prefer the 

 carob, though Schembri states that it builds in the almond 

 tree. 



The precipitous cliffs of both islands still afford shelter to 



