1917-] Ornithology of Malta . 299 



19. Carduelis linaria cabaret (P. L. S. Miill.). The Lesser 

 Red pole. 



Local name : Baghal tal giojjin. 



A specimen was taken in tlie vicinity of Zurrico on the 

 18tb of November, 1916; it was brought over to Giulio 

 Mallia, one of the bird-dealers in St. John's Square, and it 

 was sold by him to a bird-fancier from Marsa ; the bird was 

 quite unknown to all the dealers present, and was soon given 

 the name of Baghal tal giojjin. The name Baghal is also 

 usually given to any rare species which occurs for the first 

 time. The Lesser Redpole has not been recorded further 

 south than Sicily, and in that island the occurrence appears 

 to be also unique. 



20. (109) Carduelis cannabina cannabina (L). The Linnet. 



Local name : Giojjin. 



Very common on migration in the autumn. The first 

 arrivals are generally noticed by the middle of October; 

 the bulk of the birds, however, are never observed before 

 the beginning of the following month. By the middle of 

 November our valleys are quite full of Linnets, but the 

 greater part are wantonly taken by both the clap and 

 the bat net ; the gi'eatest destruction is, however, wrought 

 by means of this last instrument, the poor birds being caught 

 in hundreds of dozens, to appear the next morning on the 

 stalls at the Valletta Market and sold as beccafichi, or are 

 more quickly consigned to the pot of the netters themselves. 

 When the number of these birds has been brought down 

 considerably and it is considered no longer worth while 

 to use the bat-net, the few birds which are left usually 

 linger throughout the winter and for a greater part of the 

 spring, when they occasionally breed with us. The local 

 name Giojjin talwarda, given by Giglioli, is intended for the 

 male in full plumage; it is, however, not much in use. 

 Another local name given to adult specimens is Giojjin ta 

 I'erba bianca, but this also appears to be dying out. 



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