500 Mr. G. Despott 07i the [Ibis, 



Wright says that a great many were driven on to the island 

 during a violent gale from the north-east in 1848, and many 

 were shot at Sliema, St. Julian's, and other places on the 

 north coast; besides, he records one shot at Marsascirocco 

 in July 1859, also several others, of which two or three were 

 killed, in October and November 1861 ; one seen at the 

 Marsa on the 10th of June, 1865, and another which seems 

 to have been shot in Gozo and seen l)y him at the market 

 on the 27th of October, 1872. There are two specimens 

 in the University Museum ; these bear neither date nor 

 locality, though they might be two of those mentioned by 

 Wright. Another specimen is in the collection of Mr. A. 

 Cachia Zammit; this was shot at San Giorgio a Mare 

 many years ago. Besides the local name given, in several 

 lists we also find the name " Sassla," but this has fallen 

 into disuse. 



245. (328) Hydrobates pelagicus (L.). The Storm-Petrel. 

 Local name : Camjiu in Filfla. 



A pretty common and resident species, which breeds espe- 

 cially on the islet of Filfla. It was described as a distinct 

 species by Schembri under the name TliaUissidroma melitensis, 

 because some differences which this ornithologist believed to 

 have noticed in the specimens examined by him. Our birds, 

 however, do not differ from those met with in other parts. 

 It is a general belief here that this Petrel is found only on 

 Filfla, and this ei'roneous statement has been copied in the 

 'Encyclopedia Britannica.' 



246. (330) Puffinus kuhli kuhli (Boie). The Mediter- 

 ranean Shearwater. 



Local name : Ciefa. 



This is also a practically resident and breeding species ; 

 it was once most abundant, but a continuous persecution 

 has reduced its numbers so alarmingly that protection has 

 had to be afforded to it. It breeds all along the southern 

 cliffs of the Maltese islands, but Filfla is its chief nesting- 

 station. 



