158 Recentli/ jjuhlished Ornithological Works. [Ibis, 



ebb tide before he could laud, and had to force his way hack 

 through the mangroves. Apart from coconuts the officers 

 had liad nothing to eat or driuk since leaving their station. 

 At nightfall, after much weary marching, they discovered 

 an empty house, and were able to make a raft on which they 

 set off. Their only relief from the mosquitos was to dip 

 their heads under the water. The coconut milk which 

 they carried in bottles had turned sour by this time, and by 

 the evening of the third day both were completely exhausted. 

 Commander Bridgeman, indeed, was almost insensible. 



" The tide carried the raft out to sea and the raft became 

 waterlogged, so that Flight-Commander MToon had to support 

 his comrade in his arms in order to keep the almost uncon- 

 scious man's head out of water. The two spent thirteen 

 hours on the raft on the fourth day, and for at least nine 

 hours were on the open sea. Again and again Commander 

 Bridgeman was washed off the raft and rescued again by 

 his brother-officer, until at last he died of exhaustion and 

 exposure. During the afternoon of the fourth day the tide, 

 carried the raft back to within a short distance of the shore, 

 and the survivor managed to regain the land. In his final 

 struggle to shore his face, hands, and feet were severely cut 

 by the rocks. A native conducted him to two Germans 

 who were living near, and there he collapsed. He soon 

 recovered, however, and is now quite well. Commander 

 Bridgeman's body was washed ashore a few days afterwards, 

 and was buried by the Germans.'"' 



IX. — Notices of recent Ornithological Publications. 



Despott on Maltese Birds. 



[Oruithological notes from the Maltese Islands (July-December, 1916). 

 By G. Despott, M.B.O.U. Arcliivum Melitense, 1917, pp. 251-256.] 



Mr. Despott, whose paper on the birds of Malta was 

 published in ' The Ibis ' last year, continues to record 

 all ornithological occurrences of interest in the Maltese 



