474 Mr. G. Despott on the [Ibis, 



166. (165) Carine noctua noctiia (Scop.). The Little Owl. 

 Local name : Cocca rara. 



Scliembri iu his catalogue gives the Sparrow-Owl, sayiug 

 it is very rare. Wright also reports the same species, 

 adding, however, that though the specimens sent by 

 Schembri to Prince Charles Lucien Bonaparte were deter- 

 mined by the eminent naturalist, he could not help thinking 

 that there must have been some confusion in the nomen- 

 clature and that the specimens were more probably Athene 

 noctua^ var. meridionalis. I have not seen any other specimen 

 except the one in the University Museum, and this was taken 

 by my friend Prof. R. Falzon, who recorded the occurrence 

 in ' 11 Naturalista Maltese ' of 1890. 



167. (164) Tyto alba alba (Scop.). The Common Barn- 

 Owl. 



Local name : Barbagianni. 



This Owl was formerly very common and used to nest 

 even in the old battlements surrounding the towns. It is 

 now, however, one of our rarer birds, and if it were not for 

 fresh arrivals from abroad the species would be extinct 

 amongst us. The Barn-Owl is now protected, and it is 

 hoped that our country-people will cease to persecute this 

 bird, which is one of their best allies. 



168. (186) Falco peregrinus peregrimis Tunst. The 

 Peregrine Falcon. 



Local name : Bies prim. 



Schembri says that this species occurs in March and 

 September, and also breeds with us. Wright reports it as 

 occurring in spring and autumn, and occasionally in other 

 seasons too — in fact, he records a female taken in a net on 

 the 26th of December, 1860. He also states that these 

 birds have been known to breed in the precipitous rocks of 

 Malta and Gozo, and that for several years a pair nested 

 in the inaccessible cliffs near Zurrieo. In the second 

 appendix to his list he records an individual obtained by 

 him on the 4th of May, 1864; this he says seemed to 



