442 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



Grouse, I noted a few Dartford Warblers, and obtained two 

 Egyptian Nightjars and a Eedwing. I saw two Rooks, heard of 

 the occurrence of three others, and heard of the capture of half- 

 a-dozen Storks — three of which were taken at the southern end 

 of the island, the other three at the opposite end ; of these I 

 obtained one (about two of these Storks I published also a short 

 note in the ' Zoologist ' for June at page 232). 



The Cream-coloured Coursers, which are here rare and 

 irregular visitors, appeared in fairly good numbers during this 

 period ; they made their first appearance towards the end of 

 February, and for the whole of April continued to be met with. 



The varieties in plumage I noticed comprised a perfect 

 albino Spanish Sparrow, taken in the vicinity of Krendi, a 

 melanic form of the Corn-Bunting shot at Binghisa, and a pied 

 Turtle-Dove taken in the nets at the neighbourhood of Melliha. 



During the breeding-season the Corn-Bunting seems to have 

 nested more freely than usual, while the nesting of both the 

 Sardinian and Spectacled Warblers appeared to be on the 

 decrease. Most noticable, however, and in some localities 

 especially, was the scarcity of Sparrows' nests ; and yet these 

 birds were once considered to be a nuisance. A few Linnets, 

 nested, especially in Gozo. The majority of the nests, how- 

 ever, were taken before the birds were fledged. A pair of 

 Kestrels nested in the vicinity of Krendi, and I was told that a 

 Serin's nest was found at Boschetto. The Herring-Gull, I was 

 told, nested also in fairly good numbers, and some of their eggs 

 were brought into the market too. Happily the Blue Rock- 

 Thrush was not much molested during the breeding-season ; in 

 fact I do not know of a single nest that was brought over to the 

 dealers in town. 



January. 



1st. — A moderate wind blew from the W.S.W. ; some Plovers 

 and a few Dotterels, also one or two Woodcocks. Many 

 Adriatic Gulls were seen passing in a northerly direction. 



2nd. — The wind continued to be moderate, but turned some- 

 what towards the south ; there seemed to be a good passage of 

 Golden Plovers. 



4th.— I passed a whole day in the country about Imtahleb. 



