1917-] Ornithology of Malta. 489 



when considerable numbers often pass, generally during the 

 night. In the former season the species is often observed 

 in the middle of March, and is to be met with till the end 

 of May and sometimes even till the beginning of June. 

 During the autumn I have often observed the first arrivals 

 by the second or last week of August. The bulk of the 

 birds, however, arrive late in the following month. 



210. (207) Ixobryclms miiiutus (L.). The Little Bittern. 

 Local name : Russett tas-sigiar. 



A common bird of passage during both seasons ; it is 

 more abundant, however, during the spring. During this 

 season it likes to fi'equent the sulla and corn-fields, in the 

 antumn it prefers to roost in the carob-trees : for this 

 reason it is called both Russett tas-sigiar (Tree-Heron) and 

 Russett tas-silla (Clover-Heron). The local name Bloiigios, 

 given by Scherabri, Wright, and several others, has evidently 

 fallen into disuse. 



211. (208) Botaurus stellaris stellaris (L.). The Bittern. 

 Local name : Cappuu imperial. 



In Schembri^s time this species appears to have been on 

 the increase, but Wright considers it rather scarce. At 

 present it is unquestionably of rather rare occurrence — 

 in fact, during the last ten years I have not seen a dozen 

 specimens. 1 have three in my collection, all of which 

 were taken during the spring, but Schenibri says that their 

 passage occurs during the winter months. 



212. (213) Phcenicopterus antiqxiorum Temm. The 

 Flamingo. 



Local name : Fiantiuga. 



Schembri says that a few individuals are seen almost 

 annually during the month of June. Wright also states 

 that it generally apj)ears during this month, but considers 

 it an accidental visitor ; he records one shot in May 1860, 

 a pair in the winter of 1807-G8, a third on the 22nd of 

 August, 1870, and a fourth seen Hying over Floriana in 

 April 1874. I have seen only two specimens — one was 



