Collection of Birds from the Mediterranean. 139 



Malta. — The last of the winter Meadow- Pipits was noted 

 14th March, and no migrants appeared to pass through. 



The stomachs of the specimens collected contained seeds 

 and vegetable matter, small snails, beetles, flies, and other 

 insects. 



Anthus cervinus (Pall.). 



The Red-throated Pipit was met with in Egypt (only) as 

 an abundant winter visitor. 



In dates of arrival, passage, and wintering, the Red- 

 throated Pipit agreed exactly with the Meadow-Pipit. As 

 Mr. Nicoll remarks (abis/ July 1908), the note of this 

 species is very different from that of the Meadow-Pipit, and 

 was found to be a sure guide for recognizing the species. 

 It may be described as a musical " chig " as against the 

 squeaky " peet " of the Meadow-Pipit. 



Anthus spinoletta spinoletta (L.). 



The typical race of the Water-Pipit was found plentiful 

 among the vegetation growing in the wetter places of the 

 Mesolonghi marshes near Platea, mostly in scattered parties 

 of from six to twenty in number. 



Anthus spinoletta coutellei Savi. 



Anthus spinoletta blakistoni Swinhoe. 



These two laces of the Water-Pipit were both found at 

 Port Said in the autumn on migration. A. s. coutellei 

 certainly stops to winter in moderate numbers, specimens 

 having been shot on December 23rd and 30th, but the 

 ditterence between the two races, in spite of the warmer 

 coloration of A. s. blakistoni being often noticeable in the 

 field, is not sufficient to permit of definite statements being 

 made without obtaining specimens. AVater-Pipits were first 

 seen on 21st October, after which date some were usually 

 found in the moister spots at the edge of Lake Meuzaleh, 

 though until the first week in December, when the winter 

 visitors seemed to have come to remain, the numbers 

 fluctuated considerably. 



It was observed that these Water-Pipits had the habit of 



