1 9 1 7 • ] Ornithology of Malta. 313 



50. (134) Calandrella minor minor (Cab.). The Lesser 

 Sliort-toed Lark. 



Local name : Bilbla seconda. 



In my list of the birds of Malta, published in 1915, 

 I said that this species is rare but possibly unobserved, 

 and that it also nests at times with us. In my paper on 

 the breeding birds of Malta, published in the ' Zoologist ' 

 for May 1916. I said that the few individuals which arrive 

 in April together with the foregoing species remain here to 

 breed. As it seems that these statements of mine are not 

 quite clear, I give the occurrences of the species as I have 

 them on my note-book : — 



(1) Two specimens mounted by Mr. Micallef, taken in 

 May 1891. Mr. Micallef, who stuffed three other speci- 

 mens of this species, told me tliat these birds occurred 

 in fairly good numbers in 1897, and he also showed me 

 several clutches of eggs taken during that season : these 

 were identical with the clutch in my collection about whose 

 authenticity I have not the slightest doubt. 



(2) In 1907 I had three specimens of this species, one of 

 which was brought to me together with a clutch of four 

 eggs. Of these three birds, one died after a three days' 

 confinement ; the other two lived till the beginning of 

 winter of the same year (dates of capture of these three 

 specimens : May 14 and 21, and June 4 — the last being 

 the one which was brought to me together with the 

 clutch). 



(3) On the 4th of May, 1909, I found a specimen in 

 the Valletta Market, and fourteen days later I saw another 

 at Giulio Mallia's, the bird-dealer. 



(4) On the 29th of April, 1911, a specimen was sent to 

 me by my friend, G. Vella of Zurrico ; it was captured by 

 him on the 22nd of the same month. 



Besides this, several netters and bird-dealers assure me 

 that the species is more frequent than I imagined, and that 



SER. X. VOL. V. Y 



