483 Mr. G. Despott on the [Ibis, 



during the summer and autumn. Wright, however, states 

 that he has never met with it. Mr. Micallef. who has 

 handled about half a dozen of these birds, informed me 

 that all were obtained during the spring. I have seen an 

 individual in April and another in July. Giglioli gives 

 the Maltese name Seker for this species, but the one given, 

 which is an equivalent of the Latin and which I obtained 

 from Mr. Micallef, is much more to the point. Besides, 

 the local name Seker has already been given to another 

 Hawk. 



191. (181) Accipiter nisus nisus (L.). The Sparrow- 

 Hawk. 



Local name : Sparvier. 



Both Schembri and Wright report this species as fairly 

 common. Tiie first says that it begins to arrive towards the 

 commencement of autumn and continues to be met with 

 throughout October ; the second says that it occurs on 

 passage during both seasons, and is occasionally seen also 

 during the summer months ; in October and November, 

 he adds, it is met with more frequently. I have seen 

 specimens taken during both the spring and autumn ; but, 

 though the species appears to have been more common in 

 the time of Schembri and Wright, at present it has 

 undoubtedly become very scarce. 



192. Melierax gabar (Daud.). The Gabar Goshawk. 

 Wright doubtfully reports this species on the authority 



of Mr. Hugh Strickland. 



193. (182) Milvus milvus (L.). The Kite. 

 Local name : Astun. 



According to Schembri the Kite is moi'e frequent in Gozo 

 than in Malta, though in neither of the islands can it be 

 considered a common bird. He also says that several 

 sportsmen from Gozo state that it breeds in the southern 

 cliffs of that island during the month of May. Wright, 

 who considers the species rare, says that he could not 

 confirm the fact of its breeding in these islands. I have 



