1 9 1 7 • ] Ornithology of Malta. 517 



I have never seen a specimen either on the wing or in the 

 flesh. I know, however, of the existence of a mounted 

 specimen in the possession of Mr, Mieallef, from whom I 

 obtained the local name. 



310. (311) Sterna dougallii dougallii Mont. The lloseate 

 Tern. 



Local name : Cirlewwa rosa. 



In the winter of 1912 Mr. Mieallef asked me to identify 

 three of these birds which he called by the local name given 

 above ; these were shot at the fish-ponds of Marsascirocco, 

 I have also been informed that another specimen was lately 

 taken at the Salina, but this I have not seen. 



311. (310) Sterna hirimdo L. The Common Tern. 

 Local name : Huttafa tal bahar. 



Schembri considers these birds rather rare, and says that 

 they occur towards the end of summer and at the beginning 

 of autumn. Wright states that a few are seen in the 

 spring, autumn, and winter. I consider the species rare and 

 generally occurring late in the summer. I have, however, a 

 specimen in my collection which was given to me by Mr. R. 

 Smith, who shot it on the 24th of May, 1913. In many 

 lists the simple generic name Cirlewwa is given to this 

 species, but I prefer the one given above, which I have 

 obtained from several sportsmen and fishermen. 



312. (315) Sterna minuta minnta L. The Little Tern. 

 Local name : Cirleiviva sghira. 



In Schembri's list this species is given on the autho- 

 rity of others. Wright records a specimen shot by 

 Mr. Medlycott, and a pair seen by himself at St. PauFs 

 Bay in August 1855. I have seen two mounted specimens 

 in Mr. Micallef's collection, and came across one in the 

 flesh in the market in the spring of 1909; this was in 

 such an advanced state of decomposition that it could not 

 be preserved. 



