191 /.] Ornithology of Malta. 483 



seen only five specimens, all of which occurred in October 

 1904. 



194. (183) Milvus migrans migrans (Bodd.). The Black 

 Kite. 



Local name : A stun iswed, 



Schembri states that these birds^ which he considers 

 not common, occur on passage in April and September, 

 when a few are annually taken. Wright calls the species 

 very rare. In the fourth appendix to his list he records 

 a specimen seen by him in the market on the 20th of 

 September, 1864; and in the fifth appendix he mentions 

 another, also seen by him in the market, on the 10th of 

 September, 1872: the skin of this one, he says, was preserved. 

 I have seen only three specimens. The first occurred in 

 July 1896; the second in May 1913; and the third is 

 in my collection, and was shot by my friend Prof. E. C. 

 Vassallo, on the 27th of September of the same year. 



195. (184) Pernis apivorus apivorus (L.). The Honey- 

 Buzzard. 



Local name : Cuccinrda. 



Both Schembri and Wright say that this species is 

 common on migration during both seasons, when flocks of 

 six to a dozen are sometimes seen. I consider the species 

 as one which is annually becoming scarcer — so much so, 

 in fact, that during the last six years I have only been able 

 to procure five examples, one of which was taken in Sep- 

 tember and the other four during the spring. During the 

 month of May 1916 these birds appeared to be exceptionally 

 common and continued to be observed till the second week 

 of June. 



196. (196) Pandion haliaetus haliaetus (L.). TheOsprey. 

 Local name : Arpa. 



No mention is made of this species in Schembri's 

 catalogue. Wright, however, says that, though it is by no 

 means common, it frequently shows itself in our creeks and 

 harbours during its migrations in spring and autumn. In 



2k3 



