1917-] Ornithology of Malta. 507 



269. (266) Charadrius dominicus fulvus Giu. The Asiatic 

 Golden Plover. 



Local name : Fluviera seconda. 



This species is undoul)tedly rare, but might also be 

 very easily overlooked. It is not included in Schembri's 

 catalogue. Wright records it both in his list of 1864 and 

 in one of his appendices. I have found it twice in the 

 Valletta Market, and poulterers assured me that these birds 

 are not so rare as I tliought them to be. The local name 

 is the equivalent of the English "Lesser Golden Plover.'^ 



270. (267) Squatarola squatarola (L.) . The Grey Plover. 

 Local name : Pluviera pastarda. 



Met with during the spring and autumn, and sometimes 

 during the winter too ; it is usually, however, very scarce, 

 though I remember years when it arrived in fairly good 

 numbers, and this was always during the spring. 



271. (273) Hoplopterus spinosus (L). The Spur-winged 

 Plover. 



Local name : Pluviera hit tipt un. 



Li the third appendix to his list, Wright records the 

 capture of a specimen in October 1865. It was in company 

 with another individual which escaped ; the specimen was 

 secured by Wright for his collection. The name given has 

 been suggested by Mr. Jos. Zammit, and it is practically a 

 translation of both the Latin and English names. 



272. (274; Chettusia gregaria (Pall.) . The Sociable Plover. 

 Local name : Pluviera inyliza. 



I have seen a wounded individual which lived for some time 

 111 the possession of the late Kt. Kev. Monsgr. Marmark ; it 

 was shot by a man from Binghisa, who assured me that the 

 species was not new to him — he called the bird by the local 

 name "■ Birwina j/riina." Hlasius reports the species in his 

 catalogue for the sole reason that Giglioii gives the local 

 name which I have mentioned above. Schembri also gives 

 the species, but, according to Wright, it should be omitted 

 from the list of our birds. 



