THE BREEDING BIRDS OF MALTA. 167 



them were very well concealed in shrubs growing in the thickest 

 parts of valleys, especially at Wied Zembak. Their construction- 

 material consisted of dried stems and withered blades of grass ; 

 roots were used in only two of the nests, but wool and vegetable 

 down were found, though rather sparingly, in every one of them ; 

 in structure they were rather loose. 



The eggs, from three to five in number, are of a greenish or 

 yellowish white speckled over with light grey, olive, or brown ; 

 in some eggs this brown is conspicuously reddish, and the 

 blotches are rather bold. I may add that the eggs were identical 

 with several I received from Italy. 



All the nests were found during April and May, except one, 

 which was found in March. I could not make out if both male 

 and female take part in the building of the nest, nor the length 

 of time they take to complete it. 



9. Marmora's Warbler. 

 Melizophilus sardus, Marm. — Bufula. 



This Warbler, which is fairly common, is to be met with in 

 these islands during the greater part of the year. I remember, 

 however, several years when I could not see a single specimen ; 

 during the years 1909-10-11, for example, I could not procure a 

 single specimen, and so also in 1914. 



The nests are usually built in the carob-trees, and are com- 

 posed of hay and dried stalks of grass, lined with rootlets and 

 sometimes horsehair on the inside. Both birds take part in the 

 construction, in which they employ from eight to ten days. 



The eggs, four to five in number, are of a pale greenish-grey 

 speckled over with darker grey and brown, the specks very often 

 forming a zone about the thicker end ; some eggs are somewhat 

 glossy. 



Nidification lasts from the beginning of March to the middle 

 of May. 



10. Grey Wagtail. 



Motacilla melanope, Pall. — Zacae tad-dell. 

 As a migrant this bird is fairly common, especially during 

 the Autumn, and a few individuals often pass the Winter with 

 us ; these generally remain here to breed. 



