Ornithology of Sardinia. 145 



Round Cagliari and Oristano lie numerous large brackish 

 lagoons, of which Scaffa and Quarto, at Cagliari, and S. Giusto, 

 at Oristano, are the most important. These, in winter, are 

 the haunts of large flocks of Flamingos and innumerable 

 Ducks and Waders of different species. My time, however, 

 was, I regret to say, too short to do justice to either of these 

 most interesting localities. At Cagliari there is a good local 

 museum containing a very fair collection of the birds of the 

 island. It is, however, nearly useless, being in miserable dis- 

 order, and only open for a few hours twice a week ; and al- 

 though I several times asked permission to remain a little 

 longer, or to have the cases opened, I was never allowed to 

 do so. 



In order to make these notes as easy of reference and as 

 perfect as possible, I have in a large measure adopted the no- 

 menclature of Professor Blasius in his ' List of the Birds of 

 Europe/ and have, where my own experience fails me, bor- 

 rowed information from Count Salvadori's excellent list of the 

 birds of Sardinia, published in vol. vi. " degli Atti della So- 

 cieta Italiana di Scienze Naturali," in 1864, and also from 

 Signor Gaetano Cara's older work, ' Ornithologia Sarda/ pub- 

 lished in 1842 — the only other treatise connected with the 

 subject with which I am acquainted being Cetti's ancient 

 work published at Sassari in 1766. 



My best thanks are due to Mr. R. B. Sharpe for the kind 

 trouble he has taken in advising me with respect to many 

 points which I have submitted to his consideration, and also 

 to Signor Gaetano Cara, of Cagliari, for the courteous kind- 

 ness shown to me by him during my stay there. 



1. Gyps fulvus. 



This Vulture is by no means uncommon, is resident, and 

 breeds in the island. Their appearance, however, in some 

 localities is uncertain, many days passing without one being 

 seen. In Sardinia they are far from bold, but are extremely 

 shy and suspicious ; and I have frequently seen them refuse 

 to be attracted by the most tempting pieces of meat, after 

 having soared round once or twice, and failed to satisfy them- 



