MALTA AND SICILY. 
61 
very few new plants, but I was glad to see 
the true Maiden-hair (Adiantum Capillus 
veneris) growing on the walls of the fortifica¬ 
tions. Withering says that this beautiful 
fern is to be met with in the neighbourhood 
of Barry Island, in Glamorganshire, where, 
however, and in other places, I have diligently 
searched for it without success; but a few 
years ago my sister was more fortunate, find¬ 
ing it growing in abundance on the rocks at 
Dunravon, in the same county. There are 
but few sea-birds here, and I have seen none 
but some gulls, apparently the same species 
as our own, and a pretty little sand-piper, 
which would not allow me to approach very 
near. I have not found many insects. 
Almost the first time I turned over a stone to 
search for some of my favourites, I was 
rather startled by finding two small scorpions 
under it. We sometimes catch a curious 
