APPENDIX. 
478 
when going down the Rhone from Lyons to Avignon. About half-way 
between these places several of the Cyp. melba were seen flying over 
the river, and likewise at all suitable places, from where they first 
appeared, until we reached Avignon. Hirundo rustica and II. urbica 
were likewise seen several times between Lyons and Avignon, but were 
nowhere numerous. The first I saw of these species (but which of 
them could not be determined, from the distance) was a small flock 
flying northwards, evidently on migration. All, indeed, which were 
seen to-day were, I think, only temporarily here, and would, after 
having got sufficient rest and food, move northwards. A very few 
sand martins ( Hirundo riparia ) were also seen about the Rhone to-day. 
At Malta, on the 17th of April, we first met with the common swift 
( Cypselus mur arms'), where, together with the three species of Hirundo 
just mentioned, numbers were flying low and in company, wherever 
we walked about the island ; the day was very fine and warm : all 
four species were about as numerous as in their most favoured haunts 
in the British Islands. 
“ On the 18th of April, when walking in the neighbourhood of 
Yaletta (Malta), six little plovers (Char adrius minor) in a flock alighted 
very near us, apparently to rest, and after a short time proceeded in 
their course, which was in a north-west direction.” 
The birds seen on this occasion seem to me very interesting for more 
than one reason. Persons even of education still exist who are 
incredulous respecting the fact that many species which in summer 
frequent the British Islands, winter south of the Mediterranean, and 
cross that sea annually on their northern migration in the spring ; but 
surely the fact of twenty-three of them having been seen crossing 
the Mediterranean during several successive days in spring, and all 
flying northward, should be a conclusive proof ; in addition to which 
it may be stated that migratory species only were observed.* The 
twenty-three species alluded to are the 
Kestrelf Falco tinnunculus , 
Passerine Owl Strix passerina. 
Scops -eared Owl „ scops. 
* Among them, too, were four of our smallest birds — Sylvia trochilus , S. rufa , 
S. cinerea, and S. curruea. 
f The kestrel, though permanently resident to some extent in the British Islands, 
is a well-known bird of passage in the south of Europe. 
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