ORNITHOLOGICAL REPORT FOR MALTA. 443 



The only birds I observed there were a few Larks, some Pipits, 

 and one Dartford Warbler, at the bottom of the valley ; a fresh 

 wind blew from the S.W. 



5th. — A very light N.W. wind; a Shoveller was shot at the 

 Ghadira (Melliha) by Col. Francia, who sent it over to me. 



7th. — A strong N.N.W. wind ; many Thrushes. A Eedwing 

 wa3 taken in the neighbourhood of Zurrico. 



12th. — A fresh north-westerly wind, with a little rain. I 

 observed three Firecresfcs in Col. Francia's garden at Casa Lia. 

 I was told that several of these birds were noticed at the 

 Botanical and Maglio Gardens in Floriana. 



14th. — A rather strong north-westerly wind, with a shower 

 every now and then. I observed a Dartford Warbler in a garden 

 at Sliema, and a Blackcap in the Argotti Botanical Gardens, 

 where Firecrests seemed pretty common. 



15th. — A moderate north wind ; there was what appeared to 

 be a good passage of Song-Thrushes, and one or two Golden 

 Plovers. 



16th. — The wind to-day was a light N.W., and we had a 

 pretty good passage of Song-Thrushes ; also a few Blackbirds, 

 Lapwings, and Golden Plovers. I saw the first Wryneck 

 of the season brought into the market. Lieut. Jessop of the West 

 Yorkshire Begiment reported to me that he had seen three Black 

 Bedstarts, some Pipits, Stonechats, and Wagtails, in the vicinity 

 of Citta Vecchia. 



20th. — A strong E.S.E. wind. I passed the whole day out in 

 the country around Birzebbugia. The birds I observed were some 

 flocks of Larks, terribly frightened at the continuous volleys 

 shot at them by half-a-dozen sportsmen. I noticed also a Kestrel 

 and some Spectacled and Sardinian Warblers; also one Subalpine 

 Warbler. The Corn-Bunting's note could be heard continuously 

 in all directions. 



21st. — A Great Crested Grebe was brought into the market 

 at Valletta. 



22nd. — I saw the first Scops Owl of the season brought into 

 the market. The wind blew rather strong from the W.N.W., 

 and we had a pretty good passage of Song-Thrushes and a few 

 Scops Owls. 



25th. — The same wind as that of the 22nd, and another 



