304 JOURNAL, BOMBAY XATUllAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XX V. 



Blue-cheeked Bee-eater (Merojin 2}ersicus). — Arrives in March and breeds 

 in May in the banks of the Karnn and in trenches around Ahwaz. 



European liee-eater {Alenqjs apiaster). — Breeds in Maj^ and June in 

 similar situations to M. persictis. 



Pied Kingfisher {Cerijle rudis). — Only a few pairs seen in the vicinity df 

 Ahwaz. 



White-breasted Kingfisher {Halcyon smyrnensis) . — Bare around Ahwaz. 



European Hoopoe {Uinipa epopn). — Fairly common during March and 

 April. 



Black Kite {Milvus miyvans). — Common around Ahwaz in the winter and 

 early spring. Disappears as soon as the hot weather sets in. 



Pale Harrier {Circus inacrnni-<).—^eeii only in Jauuary, February and 

 March. 



Egyptian Vulture { Xcophron jy-rcnopterui). — Common. Breeds in March 

 and April. 



Griffon Vvdture {(rypsf ulcus). — Common in spring of 1917. 



Turtle Dove {Tuvtuv communis). — Appears in the corn fields when the 

 crops are ripe. Disappears with the advent of the hot weather. 



Large pin-tailed Sand-grouse ( Fterocluvus alchata ). — Occurs around 

 Ahwaz and throughout desert tracks on both banks of the Karun in almost 

 inconceivable numbers. In the winter they keep for the most part in flocks 

 of enormous size. I never struck a drinking pool. They pair in April and 

 lay at the end of May and beginning of June. Clutches vary from 2-3, 

 more often the latter. No attempt at any nest, just a mere depression in 

 the ground serves their purpose. There seems to be a good deal of local 

 mioration. Towards the latter half of April 1 observed such an event at 

 Ahwaz. For almost a week hundreds of thousands of these birds could be 

 seen in tlie cool of the morning and evening flying almost dvie south. How 

 this bird manages to brood over her eggs on the bare ground, sweft at this 

 time of the year by violent sand storms, and in the appalling heat of these 

 parts passes my comprehension. There is great variation in the size and 

 colour of the eggs. 



Spotted Sand Grouse {I^eroclurus seneyuUus). — Occurs around Ahwaz, 

 but is comparatively rare compared with P. alchata. Breeds there but i 

 never secured a clutch. 



Black Partridge {Francolinus rulyaris). — Occur wherever there is favour- 

 able jungle. 



^eesea {Ammoperdic bon/iami). — -Occasionally seen during the winter in 

 the small hills near Ahwaz. 



Common Qivdil {Coturnis communis). — Saw a few during the early spring. 



Common Crane {(j'rus communis). — Occurs and has been shot around 

 Band-i-Qir. 



Little Bustard {Otis tetra.v). — Major Watts reports this bird from the 

 neighbourhood of Shush. 



(ireat Bustard {Otis tarda). — Major Watts reports a flock of about t5 of 

 these birds o\i the Amarah-Shush road about one day's march beyond 

 Amarah. They were very wild and would let no one approach within 400 

 yards without taking wing. 



Houbara {Houhara macqueeni). — Occurs around Ahwaz, 



Stone Curlew {(Ivlicnemus scolopax). — Fairly common around Ahwaz 

 where it breeds in April and May. 



Cream-coloured Courser {Cursorius yallicus). — Occurs sparingly arovnid 

 Ahwaz where it probably breeds. 



Collared Pratincole {(rlarcola pratincola). — Exceedingly common around 

 Ahwaz in the spring and summer. Breeds in April and May. I found a 

 colony of about l-"> i)airs of these birds breeding on ati island in mid stream 



