1917-] Ornithology of Malta. 291 



five days before ; lie also told me that these birds are rare and 

 irregular visitors to these islands, but from his experience 

 he considered them of a more frequent occurrence than the 

 preceding. The above-mentioned specimens are, however, 

 the only ones which I have' seen. Tlie local name was given 

 me by Mr. Micallef. 



3. (14'2) CorvTis cornix comix L. The Hooded Crow. 

 Local name : Ciaula griza. 



A very rare straggler. The first mention of the species 

 appears to have been made by my friend Prof. R. Falzon, 

 in 1890. I know of three other specimens taken in these 

 islands: the first was killed in the vicinity of Notabile 

 and was stuffed by Mr. Micallef, who sold it to a local 

 collector; the second I found in the Valletta Market on 

 the 8th of April, 1914, this was shot in Gozo the day before 

 and now forms part of my collection ; the third is the speci- 

 men preserved in the University Museum, which, though 

 bearing neither date nor locality, is said to have been taken 

 in these islands. In spite of its rarity, it is said that in some 

 parts of Sicily this species is known by the name of "Maltese 

 Crow.'" The local name given is nothing but a translation 

 of the Italian name, and by it the bird is known to local 

 collectors and ornithologists. 



4. (145) Corvus frugilegus frugilegus L. The Rook. 

 Local name : Corvu. 



A rare visitor, generally seen during the autumn, though 

 1 have seen it more than once also during the spring. Ac- 

 cording to Schembri, it occurs on passage in October and 

 November, generally arriving in flocks of five or six indi- 

 viduals. Wright records the species as very common during 

 the winters of 1861-62 and 1862-63, w^hen he says it re- 

 mained with us for several months; he observed it also at 

 tiie beginning of spring in 1864. I saw three individuals on 

 the 11th of April, 1916, and Capt. Scott Hopkins reported 

 to me three others observed by him on the 6th of the 

 following May in the vicinity of Hagiar Kim. Besides the 



