522 Mr. G. Despott on the [Ibis, 



whicli was exposed for sale in the Valletta Market ; it was 

 taken alive at the Salina the day before. On the day 

 following, the same poulterer presented to me another 

 specimen which he said was picked up dead at the same 

 locality. Both are now in my collection. The local name 

 is the one which Avas used by the man from whom I bought 

 the birds. 



327. (334) Fratercula arctica arctica (L.). The Puffin. 

 Local name : Purcinella tal hahar. 



Schembri records the capture of a specimen by Sig. Bal- 

 dassare Ellul in November 1832, and Wright simply repeats 

 Scherabri's statement. I have seen more than ten speci- 

 mens taken in these islands, and have also a pair in my 

 collection which I pi'ocured from the market. The first, 

 which is an adult in full plumage, was taken at the Salina 

 on the 10th of January, 1910 ; the second, an immature 

 specimen, at Marsascirocco on the 4th of January, 1915. 



328. (259) Otis tarda tarda L. The Great Bustard. 

 Local name : Pitarrun. 



Schembri records the occurrence of several individuals 

 during a north-westerly gale in 1835, and a specimen shot 

 at Marfa by the Governor, Major-General Sir Frederic 

 Cavendish Ponsonby. This, he says, was preserved in the 

 Public Library. Wright calls the species rare, and states that 

 every two or three years one of these birds is shot — chiefly 

 in Gozo; he also records the capture of five individuals. 

 I have seen a pair which were taken on the 17th of October, 

 1899. There is a specimen in the University Museum. 

 This is probably the one which was shot by the Governor 

 at Marfa. It is, unfortunately, at present in a miserable 

 state. 



329. (260) Otis tetrax L. The Little Bustard. 

 Local name : Pitarra. 



Schembri says that this species is as rare as the pre- 

 ceding, and records some individuals also taken b}' Governor 

 Ponsonby. Wright does not consider it as rare as its larger 



