THE MEDITERRANEAN NATURALIST 
286 
2. The most common r on-indigenous birds. 
The majority of these stay on these shores for many months of the year. 
1 
Cypselus apus 
Swift 
Rundun 
Very common. Two sps. feed on insects 
and their larva?, and flies on the wine. 
2 
Caprimulgus Eu- 
ropseus 
Nightjar 
Bukraik 
Two species. Common. Feeds entirely 
upon insects. 
3 
Muscicapa Grisola 
Spotted flycatcher 
Zanzarell 
Very common. Feeds principally ;n in- 
sects. Two spec:.-. 
4 
Alauda arborea 
Short-toed-lark 
Biibla 
Very common. Feed- principally on in- 
sects. Two species. 
5 
Tringa subarquata 
Curlew sandpiper 
Begazzina hamra 
Common. In summer its food is princi- 
pally insects. In winter crustaceans 
and molluscs. 
6 
Alauda arborea 
Wood lark 
Ciuklaita 
Common. Feeds nrincipallv on sects. 
7 
Anthus pratensis 
Meadow pipit 
Pespus tal giargir 
Very common. Six species. Principal 
food, insects and larva?. 
8 
Motacilla Hava 
Yeilow wagtail 
Kappamosk 
Very common. Chiefly on insects. 
9 
Rallus aquaticus 
Water rail 
Gallozz tax-xitna 
Common. Five species. Principal food 
snails and -lugs. 
10 
Coturnix com- 
munis 
Quail 
Summiena 
Principal food, slugs, insects, locusts, 
chickweed etc. 
11 
Sturnis vulgaris 
Starling 
Sturnell 
Chiefly on worms, slugs, small molluscs, 
flies, beetles, ticks, and .other insects. 
12 
Oriolis galbula 
Golden oriole 
Taira safra 
Common. Feeds on insects, larva?, cater- 
pillars. and cherries. 
13 
Erithacus rubi- 
cula 
Robin 
Petirross 
Common. Feeds on insects, worm ?. 1 e h 1 
etc. 
14 
Upupa epops 
Hoopse 
Dakkuka tal pin- 
nace 
Very common. Feeds chiefly on worms, 
insects and their larva?, and flies on 
the wing. 
The above remarks on the frequency with which public were afforded the means of judgir g of the 
the birds occur were made by Mr. Wright twenty nature and actual extent of the outbreak. Re'er- 
or more years ago — but unfortunately for the , ring to this subject in the current issue or 
Maltese agriculturist, they can only now be j “Hfeptmia". Sigr. l’adovan gives son:: i’tr rcsti.-.g 
regarded in a relative sense. They are all now. 1 details of the report of the Italian seism legist in 
numerically, much less common, and the alarming ; the course of which he gives us the most salient 
increase in insect pests which has taken place of features connected with the out break. Prot. Rieeo 
late years may be distinctly traced to the whole- arrived at Pantelleria on the morning of tl :_:.d 
sale “bird-murder which is carried on in the of October, that was about five and a halfdays 
islands by netters, trappers, and other classes of atterthefirst symptoms had manifested themselv es. 
sportsmen. Immediately after landing he collected all available 
information relating to the various phases of the 
disturbances of the preceding days after which he 
The late eruption of Pantelleria proceeded to the crater-lake “II Bagno" and made 
an examination of its profile. The shocks of 
In October 11391 a considerable sensation was earthquake which accompanied the sui nia, in. 
produced among the inhabitants of Pantelleria and phenomena had been severely :Vit by the Pantel- 
the neighbouring islands by a report that a subma- lerians, and were clearly evidenced in a fracture 
rine eruption had taken place within a short which was found running in a S. E. d: ection 
distance of the Pantellerian shores, and that a new from the edge of tills old crater for a distance 
island had been thrown up by the seismic forces, of about fifty meters. After having thoroughly 
As usual the reports greatly exaggerated the : surveyed the island the. Professor proceeded in the 
real facts of the case, and it was not until many steam launch “ Bausani” to the scone of the erupt- 
months after when Prof. Ricco published a detailed ions. .Jets of steam and large bombs of eonside- 
account of the alarming phenomena that the rable size and consisting of a black scoriaceous 
