ORNITHOLOGICAL REPORT FOR MALTESE ISLANDS. 38 



18th. — 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. 



24th. — 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. 



26th. — 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 moonlight I could observe distinctly several Binged 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- 



