476 Mr. G. Despott on the [Ibis, 



172. (192) Falco eleonorae Gene. Eleonoran Falcon. 

 Local name : Falchet't tar regina. 



Colonel Driimmond-Hay shot a specimen in Malta, and 

 this was recorded by Wright, who says that another speci- 

 men was taken alive on the 4th of May, 1864. Giglioli, 

 very probably alluding to these specimens, states that the 

 species has occurred in Malta at least twice. I have been 

 informed by Mr. Micallef that he handled several speci- 

 mens which very probably belonged to this species. 1 have 

 not yet, however, succeeded in seeing an example, so 

 that I consider the species rare and perhaps overlooked. 

 The local name, Falchett tar regina^ I obtained from 

 Mr. Micallef. 



173. (191) Falco subbnteo subbuteo L. The Hobby. 

 Local name : Seker tal karnnicka. 



More or" less common during its migrations in spring 

 and autumn. I quite agree, however, with Wright that 

 it is much scarcer in some years than in others. I have 

 several times been assured that the species breeds occa- 

 sionally with us, and this I confirmed on the 12th of May, 

 1910, when I obtained a nest. As I often heard the local 

 name " Pellegrin " applied to this bird, I am inclined to 

 think that this is the species alluded to by several observers 

 under the name of Falco peregrinus, which they say is here 

 a common resident and breeds. In Giglioli^s Avifauna the 

 local name given is Bies. This name is, however, used 

 for several species of the genus, and for this reason I have 

 preferred the one which I have given. 



174. (190) Falco sesalon aesalon Tunst. The Merlin. 

 Local name : Seker ta denhu. 



Schembri says that this species is very common during the 

 autumn, and Wright that it is not uncommon during both 

 seasons and particularly in the autumn. From my own 

 observations, however, I should say that the species is gene- 

 rally very scarce — in fact, I have only been able to obtain 



