APPENDIX. 473 



when going down the Rhone from Lyons to Avignon. About half-way 

 between these places several of the Cyp. melba were seen flying over 

 the river, and likewise at all suitable places, from where they first 

 appeared, until we reached Avignon. Hirundo rmtica and H. urbica 

 were likewise seen several times between Lyons and Avignon, but were 

 nowhere numerous. The first T saw of these species (but which of 

 them could not be determined, from the distance) was a small flock 

 Hying northwards, evidently on migration. All, indeed, which were 

 seen to-day were, I think, only temporarily here, and would, after 

 having got sufiicient rest and food, move northwards. A very few 

 sand martins {Hirundo riparia) were also seen about the Ehone to-day. 

 At Malta, on the 17th of April, we first met with the common swift 

 {Cypselns nmraiius), where, together with the three species oi Hirundo 

 just mentioned, numbers were flying low and in company, wherever 

 we walked about the island ; the day was very fine and warm : all 

 four species were about as numerous as in their most favoured haunts 

 in the British Islands. 



" On- the 18th of April, when walking in the neighbourhood of 

 Valetta (Malta), six little plovers (Charadrius minor) in a flock alighted 

 very near us, apparently to rest, and after a short time proceeded in 

 their course, which was in a north-west direction." 



The birds seen on tliis occasion seem to me very interesting for more 

 than one reason. Persons even of education still exist who are 

 incredulous respecting the fact that many species which in summer 

 frequent the British Islands, winter south of the Mediterranean, and 

 cross that sea annually on their northern migration in the spring ; but 

 surely the fact of twenty-three of them having been seen crossing 

 the Mediterranean during several successive days in spring, and all 

 flying northward, should be a conclusive proof ; in addition to which 

 it may be stated that migratory species only were observed.* The 

 twenty-tliree species alluded to are the 



Kestrelf Falco tinnunculus. 



Passerine Owl StrLt passerina. 



Scops -eared Owl „ scops. 



* Among them, too, were four of our smallest birds — Sylvia trochilus, S. rtifa, 

 .S. cinerea, and S. curruca. 



t The kestrel, though permanently resident to some extent in the British Islands, 

 is a weU-knowu bird of passage in the south of Europe. 



VOL. III. 2 L 



