1 91 7-] Ornithology of Malta. 305 



generally confused with the Italian and Spanish Sparrows. 

 Wright, however, says that he knew only one specimen 

 taken in these islands and that it was in the collection of 

 Schembri, who had asked him to correct the error he fell 

 into when he said that this Sparrow bred in Malta. In 

 October 1912, the species occurred in fairly good numbers — 

 I obtained two specimens from Pietro Darmanin (Tal melh), 

 a husbandman from Zurrico, who captured Hve individuals 

 in the neighbourhood of his village. Besides these, I saw 

 another pair whicb were taken in my presence from a flock 

 of five or six by Mr. Conti, who was netting for Finches at 

 Wied il Koton in November of the same year. Mr, Micallef 

 took nine or ten other specimens during that season, and 

 the specimen in the University Museum is one of these. The 

 local name given above, though rather long, is practically a 

 translation of the English " Tree- Sparrow,^^ and is certainly 

 more correct than the local name given by Giglioli — Ghas- 

 fur tal btjt abjdd, which means White Sparrow. 



32. (101) Passer italise italise (Vieill.). The Italian 

 Sparrow. 



Local name : Ghasfur tal bejt second. 



There appears to be some confusion about this species 

 in both Schembri^s and Wright's notes. I have no doubt, 

 however, that the species, though rare, does really occur. 

 It has been met with at least twice. The first time a 

 specimen was taken by Lorenzo Calleja in the spring of 

 1909; this was given to me and lived for several years 

 in confinement, when it easily crossed with the Spanish 

 Sparrow. The second time it was reported to me by my 

 friend Mr. Jos. Zammit, who captured a specimen in 

 June 1916. In the 'Catalogue of the Collection of the 

 Birds of Malta' the local name for this species is Ghasfur 

 tal bejt iswed, which means Black Sparrow ; this, of 

 course, is not at all befitting, as the Italian Sparrow is 

 in no wav black. The name which I have selected has 

 been suggested by the Hon. Prof. Magro. 



