ORNITHOLOGICAL REPORT FOR MALTESE ISLANDS. 38/ 



18tli. — Almost calm ; weathercocks still pointing in the same 

 direction. A Curlew passed to the south early in the morning. 



17th. — A very light N.N.W. wind. Flocks of Short-toed 

 Larks continually coming in from the sea. 



19th. — A light north-westerly wind. A Curlew passed 

 against the wind early in the morning. 



20th. — Almost calm, N.N.W. Many Grey-headed Wagtails 

 (amongst which were some Short-toed Larks) came in from the 

 east. 



23rd. — A fresh wind blowing from the N.N.W. ; a little 

 shower every now and then. During the morning several 

 Short-toed Larks and Grey-headed Wagtails came in from the 

 sea ; amongst them I observed several Black-headed Wagtails. 

 In the afternoon I saw two Hoopoes, the first I observed during 

 the season. 



24tli. — Wind moderate, a very light shower. Short-toed 

 Larks and Wagtails continued coming in from the sea. I ob- 

 served that while the Wagtails alighted, the Larks continued 

 their way against the wind. Five Swallows came in during 

 the day. 



25th. — A slight shower. Several Swallows and one or two 

 House-Martins. 



2Btli. — Wind blowing moderately from the N.W. A Curlew 

 passed in the morning to the S.W. Wheatears were observed 

 arriving during the afternoon. 



27th. — The wind blew somewhat lighter from the same direc- 

 tion. Several flocks of Curlews, composed of from three to seven 

 individuals, passed to the south. Along the barren rocks of 

 Binghisa there seemed to be quite an inrush of Wheatears. 



28th. — A perfect calm. Of the Wheatears seen yesterday 

 not one could be observed to-day ; a Sparrow-Hawk was seen 

 passing to the S.E. (I was told that many Wheatears were 

 exposed for sale at the Valletta Market.) 



29th. — A very light wind blowing from the S.S.E. In the 

 clear moonhght I could observe distinctly several Einged Plovers 

 running over the sand at Birzebbugia, and continually picking 

 up something ; they were probably feeding on the Sand-hoppers 

 and other small crustaceans so common on that sandy beach. 



30th. — The wind continued to be very light, blowing, how- 



