318 Mr. G. Despott on the [Ibis, 



the birds, however, are never with us before the beginning 

 of the following month. According to Wright, the species 

 passes again in March ; I believe, however, that the indi- 

 viduals observed during that month are only those which 

 have lingered hei'e after the autumn migration, and which 

 have been so fortunate as to escape the net and the gun. 

 The local name, Pespus tal Giargir, found in almost all 

 other lists of the birds of Malta, has now fallen into 

 disuse, and the bird is known at present by the simple name 

 of Pespus. 



62. (70) Anthus cervinus (Pall.) . The Red-throated Pipit. 

 Local name : Pespus ahmar. 



I quite agree with Wright, who states that this species 

 has escaped notice, owing probably to its having been con- 

 sidered a variety. I have met with it very frequently 

 from October to March; I cannot say, however, that it is 

 common, and during some years it appears to be un- 

 doubtedly rare. In several lists the local name given is 

 Tizz ahmar; I find, however, that the majority of netters 

 and sportsmen know the species by the name given above. 



63. (71) Anthus spinoletta spinoletta (L.). The Water- 

 Pipit. 



Local name : Tizz salvagg. 



The species was first recorded by Schembri, who says that 

 it was observed by Dr. Grech Delicata in October 1842. 

 Wright records the capture of two specimens, one shot by 

 him on Fort Manoel Island ou the 5th of November, 1860, 

 and another by Captain Feilden, in the same locality, in 

 November 1873. The local name is taken from Giglioli's 

 'Avifauna Italica,' whence Blasius has probably adopted it. 



64. (72) Anthus spinoletta ohscurus (Lath.). The Rock- 

 Pipit. 



Local name : Tizz rar. 



In my list of 1915 I said, by mistake, that this species 

 has been twice recorded in these islands ; I must now, how- 

 ever, correct that statement and say that the only occurrence 

 of the Rock-Pipit in Malta is that recorded by Wright in 



