466 Mr. G. Despott on the [Ibis, 



The type is an example collected by Mr. H. Whitely, jnr., 

 at Huasampilla, at an elevation of about 10,000 feet^ north- 

 east of Cuzco^ on the eastern slopes of the A.ndes, in July 

 1871, and was formerly in the collection of Dr. P. L. Sclater 

 (B.M. reg. no. 86/9/J5/399). 



The measurements are as follows : — Wing 134, tail 150, 

 tarsus 37, culraen 25 mm. 



There are three other examples of the subspecies, all taken 

 by Whitely at the same locality between October 1870 and 

 March 1872, now in the Museum collection. None of the 

 examples are sexed by the collector, but probably there is 

 no mai'kcd difference in this respect. They were referred 

 to C. viridicyanea by Messrs. P. L. Sclater and Salvin 

 (P. Z. S. 1873, p. 185). 



The type of C. v. viridicyanea was obtained by d'Orbigny, 

 tlie French traveller, also on the eastern slopes of the 

 Cordillera, but some 500 miles farther south, to the east 

 of La Paz in Bolivia. It is figured by d'Orbigny (Voy. 

 Am. Merid., Ois. 1844, pi. 53. fig. 1), and is represented in 

 the British Museum collection by examples obtained by 

 the late Charles Buckley and P. O. Simons in the same 

 district to the east of La Paz. 



The Plate illustrates the two subspecies, the typical form 

 beiuiiT figured in the background. 



XXVI. — Notes on the Ornithology of Malta. 

 By G. Despott, M.B.O.U. 



[Concluded froui p. 349.] 



147. (148) Micropns melba melba (L.). The Alpine Swift. 



Local name : Rundun ta zakku bajda. 



Both Schcmbri and Wright say that this species is not as 

 common as its congener the Common Swift, and that it 

 ai'rives here in April and September, but does not remain 

 long in these islands. According to my own observations 

 I can say that the species is rare, though occasionally it has 



