444 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



rather plentiful passage of Song-Thrushes ; also a few Golden 

 Plovers and Pipits, some White Wagtails, and many Larks. 



26th. — Wind blowing milder from the same direction. 

 Song- Thrushes again plentiful. Sparrows showed increase (but 

 always scarce), and nests with eggs could already be found. 



28th. — A Short-eared Owl was exposed for sale on one of the 

 stalls at the market. 



February. 



4th. — Several dozens of Sparrows and other small birds were 

 taken by means of the bat-net and brought into the market, 

 where I observed also some Thrushes and one Scops Owl. 



5th. — Weather-cocks pointing to the W.N.W. Some Snipes 

 were observed, and a few taken ; there were many Starlings, 

 plucked of their feathers, in the market. 



7th. — A very light wind from the W.S.W. Snipes again; 

 also some Jack Snipes, a few Golden Plovers and Lapwings ; 

 also one or two Blackbirds. 



11th. — The wind blowing moderately from the S.S.W. This 

 brought many Song- Thrushes, which arrived during the night ; 

 in the valleys a few Scops Owls were observed. Golden Plovers 

 and Buffs were seen at the Marsa and Salina ; at this last 

 locality a few were also taken. 



12th. — The wind increased in force, and we had a passage of 

 Song-Thrushes, with some Blackbirds. 



loth. — The only birds brought into the market were some 

 Quails, Thrushes, and Larks, three Linnets, one Bobin, two 

 Jackdaws, and two Golden Plovers. 



20th. — A moderate wind from the west ; a few Lapwings and 

 Plovers were observed. Four or five Teal came into Marsas- 

 cirocco Bay, and two were shot on the fish-ponds. 



21st. — A Spotted Crake, a Teal, and two Lapwings at the 

 market. 



22nd. — A Shelduck was sent to me from the market ; it was 

 killed the day before at the fish-ponds at Marsa Scala. 



23rd. — I went to Gozo, where the absence of birds was 

 simply astonishing — in fact, besides a few Sparrows, the only 

 bird I saw was a Bobin ; but I heard the note of the Corn- 

 Punting. 



