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ORNITHOLOGICAL REPORT FOR THE MALTESE 

 ISLANDS (JULY-DECEMBER, 1915). 



By G. Despott, M.B.O.U., 



Nat. Hist. Museum, Malta. 



The Maltese Islands, owing to their position almost in the 

 very centre of the Mediterranean, and forming, as has often 

 been stated, a stepping-stone between Europe and Africa, are 

 surely to be considered an ideal point from which to make ob- 

 servations and issue a report on Bird-Migration, Several friends 

 have promised to assist me in this work, and some have already 

 given me many valuable notes for the compilation of the present 

 report. Amongst these I may mention Mr. L. Cachia Zammit, 

 Col. Francia, Mr. F. S. Gera, Prof. Vassallo, LL.D., Mr. A. 

 Vassallo, P.A.A., and Mr. J. Zammit, P.L., to all of whom I 

 must tender my heartfelt thanks. 



During these six months the following were the most im- 

 portant occurrences : 



(1) A Short-toed Eagle {Circaetus gallicus), taken in the 

 neighbourhood of Wardia in the first week of October ; this is 

 the only living specimen I have seen taken in the island. There 

 is a stuffed specimen in the Nat. Hist. Museum, and another 

 was in the collection of the late taxidermist Mr. G. Micallef, 

 which was shot in Comino about twelve years ago. Schembri 

 says that this species, which is rather rare and does not occur 



