1917-] Ornithuloyij of Malta. 523 



congener, and records one shot in October 18G2. I have 

 seen two or three mounted specimens, and handled two in 

 the flesh : of these, one is in Col. Francia's collection, the 

 other is in mine ; both of them were shot during the spring, 

 in which season they seem more frequently to occur. 



330. (261) Chlamydotis undulata undulata Jacq. The 

 Houbara Bustard. 



Local name : Ghubara. 



Schembri records an individual met with on Corradino hill 

 by Signer G. Borg Madiona in 1841. There is a mounted 

 specimen in the University Museum Avliich is said to have 

 been obtained by Mr. W. Grant from Gozo in 1866. I saw 

 a live specimen in a shop at Marsa in the spring of 1910. 

 I am afraid, however, that this was an imported bird, though 

 people pretended that it was taken locally in a net. 



331. (257) Megalornis grus grus (L.). The Common 

 Crane. 



Local name : Graimua. 



According to Schembri, a few of these birds appear almost 

 annually at the approach of winter. Wright says that a few 

 appear also annually during the spring and autumn, and 

 occasionally during the winter. He records a specimen 

 shot on the 13th of December, 1866, and another in March 

 of the following year. I consider the species of almost 

 annual occurrence, but generally rare. I have met with it 

 at almost all seasons ; it is, however, more frequently seen 

 during the spring and autumn. In one day of November 

 ]912 I observed these birds passing in thousands, when 

 a good number of them were killed. Besides the Maltese 

 name, the species is also known locally as Airm. As 

 this is, however, also given to the Common and Purple 

 Herons, I prefer the one which I have used — besides, this is 

 also the one commonly met with. 



332. (258) Anthropoides virgo (L.). The Demoiselle Crane. 

 Local name : Damigella. 



According to Schembri, these fine Cranes occur in our 



