1917-] Ornithology of Malta. 323 



of very rare occurrence in all the islands composing the 

 Maltese group ; but I quite remember when Mr. G. R. 

 Busuttil, sent as a present to my father a dish-full of very 

 small and beautifully coloured birds, which, according to 

 the impression left on my memory, could only have been 

 Blue Tits. The local name above given has been picked 

 up from the dealers in St. Johu^s Square. I cannot give, 

 however, the reason why the birds are so called. 



75. (59) Parns caeruleus ultramarinus Bp. Algerian Blue 

 Tit. 



Local name : Primavera rasha griza. 



In the spring of 1908 Mr. Micallef showed me a specimen 

 which he was preparing for Mr. Leach. I was told that 

 Mr. Leach had bought it of Giulio Mallia, from whom I 

 gathered that the bird was taken in the neighbourhood 

 of Zurrico by a netter of the village. The words "rasha 

 ^?7,2'fl" added to the local name ^^ Primavera" mean grey- 

 headed, which I think will be easily accepted, as they point 

 out the main difference which exists between this species and 

 the previous one. 



76. (36) Regulus regulus regTilxis (L.). The Continental 

 Golden-crested Wren. 



Local name : Ziemel. 



Schembri says that these birds are very rare, and when 

 they visit us it is generally during stormy weather in 

 December and January. Wright also states that the species 

 occurs in the winter, but he adds that, though it appears some- 

 what rare, it no doubt often escapes detection. I have seen 

 only two specimens obtained in these islands — one was taken 

 in 1899 and was preserved by Mr. Micallef, the other was 

 sent to me in the flesh on the 10th of November, 1912, by 

 my friend Mr. Jos. Zammit. 



77. (37) Regulus ignicapillus ignicapillus Temm. The 

 Fire-crested Wren. 



Local name : Ziemel tat-toppu ahmar. 



For this species Schembri and Wright repeat the same 



