List of Birds observed in Malta and Gozo. 231 
been recorded as observed here (Ibis, 1869, p. 245), and 
no collection in the island, public or private, contains a spe¬ 
cimen. It was shot on the rocks near the ruins of Crendi, 
on Thursday, the 13th inst. It was seen to approach from 
the direction of Filfla, at a great height, and, on gaining the 
land, descend at one flight to the ground. From the descrip¬ 
tion given it appears to have been in the dark plumage of the 
immature bird, known in that state as the King-tailed Eagle, 
on account of the white marking on the tail-feathers. 
Falco Eleonoras (Ibis, 1864, p. 48). The first specimen 
of this interesting bird that I ever handled in the flesh was 
taken alive in Malta on the 4th May, 1864, and is in my col¬ 
lection. It is an exceedingly fine example of the bird in the 
Hobby stage of plumage. I append a description, chiefly 
from notes taken at the time : — 
Length (in the flesh) 15 inches; wings from carpal to tip 
12J; wings extending beyond the tail 1 T 7 2-. Beak bluish. 
Cere, margins of eyelids, legs, and feet sulphureous yellow; 
claws black. Irides very dark. 
The upper parts are of a schistaceous black, very slightly 
marked on the edges of some of the feathers with rufous ; no 
rufous on the nape. Underparts rufous, indistinctly streaked 
with blackish brown tinged with sooty black; deeper rufous 
towards the vent- and thigh-feathers, which show very few 
streaks. Moustaches very apparent; sides of the neck and 
throat white or creamy white. Inner webs of the primaries 
unicolorous, i. e. without any spots, which peculiarity, toge¬ 
ther with its larger size, is given by Salvadori^, although 
hesitatingly, as the chief means of distinguishing it from the 
Hobby in this condition of plumage. 
The bird-stuffer to whom I sent it to be set up assures me 
it was a male. Lord Lilford, who has given much attention 
to this species, thinks it is probably in the plumage of the 
third year. 
I once observed what I am almost certain was a bird of 
this species, in summer, flying in the ditch of the fortifi- 
* Op. cit. ( ( Uccelli di Sardegna ’), p. 25. 
