472 Mr. G. Despott on the [Ibis, 



a specimen obtained by him in the market on the 18th of 

 April, 1867. I have never met with the species in these 

 islands, and the only example which I know is the one in 

 the University Museum, and this, as with the majority of the 

 older specimens, bears neither date nor locality. 



162. (164) Bulo Ibubo bubo (L.). The Eagle-Owl. 

 Local name : Cocca imperiali. 



I have seen a stuffed specimen in Schembri's collection 

 at San Giorgio a Mare, and there is also another one in the 

 University Museum ; neither of these, however, bears any 

 date or locality. I have been assured, however, that the 

 species has occurred in the island and was known l)y 

 the local name given above. Capt. A. V. Falzon, Sant 

 Manduca, assures me that some time ago he shot a large 

 Owl at Pembroke (Malta), and according to his descrip- 

 tion of the bird I cannot ascribe the individual except to 

 this species. In Giglioli^s Avifauna the local name 0mm 

 is snbien is given ; this name, however, is already applied to 

 the Short-eared Owl. For the occurrence of this species in 

 Malta further evidence is desired. 



163. (163) Otus scops scops (L.). The Scops Owl. 

 Local name : Cocca. 



This is one of our common birds which occurs on passage 

 during both seasons. In the autumn the first arrivals are 

 generally noticed by the first or second week of October, 

 and in the spring they are frequently observed towards the 

 beginning of February ; but, as I have often met with 

 the species also in December and January, I am inclined to 

 say that it may be considered as a partial resident too. 

 So persecuted are these poor birds that few chances are 

 given them to escape. They are slaughtered in great 

 numbers during both the spring and autumn, and in the 

 former season especially I have many times seen, in my 

 visits to the Valletta Market, large heaps consisting of 

 several hundreds of these birds. 



