THE ZOOLOGIST^ 



No. 906.— December 15th, 1916. 



ORNITHOLOGICAL REPORT FOE THE MALTESE 



ISLANDS (JANUARY— JUNE, 1916). 



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



Nat. Hist. Museum, Malta. 



Although no new species has been added to the list of the 

 foirds of Malta during the first six months of 1916, nevertheless, 

 besides several rarities, we had one occurrence which will serve 

 to confirm what has till now figured on our list with some doubt. 

 This is that of the Black-bellied Sand- Grouse, about which I 

 published a short note in the ' Zoologist ' for May at page 231. 



Besides that of the Quails, which on April 28th arrived in 

 considerable numbers, when at Nadur (Gozo) alone more than 

 2000 were taken, another passage of birds worth recording is 

 that which occurred on March 25th, when Hoopoes, Wrynecks, 

 Bock-Thrushes, and "Wheatears came over in abundance, on 

 which grave -havoc was made by sportsmen, as will be seen from 

 the note of the day following, in the body of this report. 



Large flocks of Purple Herons passed over the island on 

 April 6th, and a most abundant arrival of Scops Owls was 

 noticed on the following day. 



Bather noteworthy is the almost total absence of all sorts of 

 Ducks, which are usually frequent, especially during the first 

 months of the year. 



Amongst the rarities, besides the above-mentioned Sand- 

 Zool. 4th ser., vol. XX., December, 1916. mm 



