1 91 7-] Ornithology of Malta. 477 



one specimen, and have seeu two or three others. The local 

 name was obtained from the dealers on St. .Tohn's Square, 

 the words ta denbu having been evidently added to distin- 

 guish it from others of the same genus which are called 

 also by the name Seher. 



175. (194) Falco tinnunculus tinminculus L. The Kestrel. 

 Local name : Spanjulett. 



A common bird of passage during both seasons. A pair 

 or two are often met with all the year round. It breeds 

 here occasionally, and would do so more frequently if it 

 were not so persistently persecuted. I have several times 

 seen its nests taken from the cliffs overhanging the sea on 

 the south of the island, but have not yet been able to con- 

 firm Schembri's and Wright's statement that it breeds in 

 fortifications, though I quite believe that it did so when the 

 number of sportsmen was not so great. 



176. (195) Falco naumanni naumanni Fleisch. The Lesser 

 Kestrel. 



Local name : Spanjulett second. 



According to Schembri, this species occurs on passage 

 only in March and April ; but Wright says it is not un- 

 common in April and May and that he obtained it during 

 the autumn as well. I have never met with it during this 

 season, but, though generally in small numbers, I have 

 always observed it in the spring. I say generally, because 

 I remember two or three seasons when it arrived in con- 

 siderable numbers — it was very common, for instance, in 

 May 1915. Giglioli gives the local names Spanjulett and 

 Sparvier — the first is only generic, the second is unques- 

 tionably never given to this species at all. 



177. Falco vespertinus vespertinus L. The Red-footed 

 Falcon. 



Local name : Zumbrell. 



According to Schembri, this species arrives together with 



