APPENDIX. 
469 
at the British Museum and referring to Gould’s £ Birds of Europe ’ 
since my return, have not satisfied me on the point. Other examples 
of the same species were seen on the passage, and afterwards in the 
island of Paros. It seems to be the most common of the small 
migratory owls to the south of Europe, and I have little doubt is the 
species noticed by Sibthorp in his papers on Greece (published in 
Walpole’s Memoirs) as the Strix passerina. — Blue-headed wagtail 
( Motacilla neglecta, Gould) : two of these birds, both females, were 
about the vessel all day, and very tame ; one of them flew into our 
cabin. It was amusing to see them fly-catching on the deck, where 
they appeared to great advantage, and met with considerable success. 
Their manner is, poking out the neck most ludicrously, opening wide 
the bill, and then — making the unerring dart at their victim.* 
“Common swallow {Hirundo rustica). Two remained sometime 
about the ship, perching on the rigging, and hawking over the deck in 
pursuit of flies. 
“April 23. — Wind S.E., 80 miles from Malta and 50 from Cape 
Passaro, the nearest land. A lesser grey shrike ( Lanins minor), of 
which I had a near view several times ; a whitethroat ( Sylvia cinereo ), 
a willow- wren {Sylvia Trochilus ), and a black-headed buntingf (Um~ 
beriza melanocepliala ), flew on board. Two individuals of the Motacilla 
neglecta remained for some time in the vessel, as did a wheat ear ( Saxi - 
coUi (Enanthe ) all day. A house marten {Kir undo urbica) flew into the 
cabin and was found dead shortly afterwards : it had not met with any 
molestation on board. The officers of the Beacon have frequently 
known birds of different species, when crossing the Mediterranean, thus 
fly into the cabin, secrete themselves, and die. A quail ( Perdix Coturnix ) 
was captured on board, and appeared to be dying at the time. 
“ April 24. — Wind S.E., 90 miles E. of Sicily: Syracuse the 
nearest land. Several of the Motacilla neglecta flew on board; one of 
them entered the cabin very boldly, and entertained -ns much by its 
familiarity. Persons passing in and out of the room did not frighten it 
from fly-catching, in which it succeeded by running, leaping, or taking 
“ * When, on the 16th of April, on our passage from Marseilles to Malta, and 
about twenty miles southward of the most southern point of Italy, two of the 
Motacilla neglecta , both males, flew on hoard the steam- packet ; they were very 
tame, and remained in the vessel for half an hour. 
“f A continental species, and not the bird — JEmberiza Schoeniclus — known in 
some parts of the British Islands by this name. 
