493 Mr. G. Despott on the [Ibis, 



of these islands, especially in stormy weather. The first 

 specimen wliich T canie across was shot out of a Hock 

 of about forty individuals at " il Brolli,'' a locality in the 

 vicinity of Birzebbugiaj by a country-lad named Giovanni 

 Bonnici (Tal Kerkni) in November 1909. I have a specimen 

 in my collection which I picked up in the Valletta Market 

 in the winter of 1913. 



218. (217) Alopochen aegyptiacus (L.). The Egyptian 

 Goose. 



Local name : IVizza taf Eyittu. 



On the 12tli of March, 1914, Mr. Ch. Naudi was so kind 

 as to send to mc a specimen of this species, which was shot 

 the day before at Baharicciaghac by Giuseppe Parnis, a 

 farmer of Casal Gargur. The specimen did not show any 

 sign of its having been kept in confinement, and on this 

 point I have not the slightest doul)t ; it now forms part of 

 my private collection. In the University Museum there is 

 also a specimen, but this, as usual, bears neither date nor 

 locality, anil besides is in a very bad state of plumage, which 

 adds much to the doubt of its having been really taken in 

 a wild state. 



219. (220) Tadorna tadorna (L.). The Common Shcld- 

 Duck. 



Local name : Uuluvert ta Barbarju. 



Schembri says that these birds occur on passage during 

 the winter, especially in January, but not in any great 

 numbers. Wright says that they are generally seen by the 

 end of October or the beginning of November, and a few 

 pass also throughout the winter months. From my obser- 

 vations 1 cannot but consider the species as scarce and 

 irregular in its visits ; of the eleven specimens which I 

 havie seen taken in these islands, one occurred in December, 

 two in November, one in October, three in February, two 

 in March, two iu April, and one in May. Though the 

 name Culuveri is given to the drake, the duck of the 

 present species is called by that name as well. 



