498 Mr. G. Despott on the [Ibis, 



In Giglioli's 'Avifauna Italica^ the Maltese name for this 

 species is M(ir(/oii, which is undoubtedly an error — this 

 name being applied by the Maltese only to the Cormorants. 

 I obtained the name here used from Mr. Petroni and 

 one or two sportsmen who had seen the specimen already 

 mentioned. 



238. (239) Mergus serrator L. The Red-breasted Mer- 

 ganser. 



Local name : Serra. 



This species occurs in pretty large numbers during some 

 years, in others, however, it is not observed at all. It is 

 met with more frequently during the winter, though I have 

 seen it taken also in the autumn and at the beginning of 

 spring. I have only met with one adult specimen ; it was 

 procured in the winter of 1906. 



239. (240) Mergus albellus L. The Smew. 

 Local name : Baghal tas-serra. 



Wright, in his general list, gives this species on the 

 authority of Schembri, who says that it is not very common 

 in these islands and generally appears during the winter 

 months. In his first appendix, however, he states that, in 

 January 1864, a number of these birds were driven on the 

 island by the severity of the weather and he obtained 

 an adult female and several young birds. In his fourth 

 appendix he says that a fine adult male was obtained in the 

 winter of 1868 and also two females. The above-mentioned 

 adult male is still preserved in the University Museum. I 

 have seen only three specimens in the flesh ; they were shot 

 at Ghain Tuffiha in the winter of 1910. Of these, two were 

 mounted by me and now form part of my collecti(m, the other 

 was in such a bad condition that 1 could not manage to set 

 it up. 



240. (197) Phalacrocorax carbo carbo (L.). The Cor- 

 morant. 



Local name : ^Margun. 



Pretty frequent, especially during the winter, when a 



