BIRDS OF SEIS TA N. 687 



10. The Desekt Tree-Warbleb. (397) Hypolais obsoleta. 

 (Biluchi, Gaz burruk.) 

 I have frequently seen this bird in the low bushes on the " dasht " near the 

 Rud-i-Seistan and shot a male specimen on the 20th March, and another on the 

 27th April 1905, near Kuhak. The measurements of the latter are as 

 follows :— length 5*0 ; wing 2*37 ; tail 2-12 ; tarsus -75; bill from gape *62 ; 

 middle toe and claw '43 ; distance from tip of first primary to tip of wing 

 T25 ; distance from tip of secondaries to tip of primaries 5. 



11. The Eastern Orphean Warbler. (399) Sylvia jerdoni. 

 (Biluchi, Gaz burruk.) 

 This bird is fairly common in the tamarisk jungles fringing the Helmand 

 and its branches. I shot a male specimen on the banks of the Rud-i-Seistan, 

 near Kuhak, on 21st March 1905. 



12. The Streaked Wren-Warbler. (462) Prinia lepida. 

 Fairly common in the tamarisk jungles. I found a nest with 4 eggs at 

 Kuhak on 29th March 1904, and shot a specimen at Kuhak on the 1st October 

 1904. 



13. The Rufous Shrike. (480) Lanius 2ihcenicuroides, (Biluchi, Dik.) 

 I noticed several of this species on the banks of the Rud-i-Seistan on 22nd 

 April 1905, when I secured a specimen (length 7*25). 



14. The Common Indian Starling. (532) Sturnus menzbieri. 

 I have on more than one occasion seen flocks of starlings in ISeistan, which, I 

 believe, belonged to this species ; but not having secured any specimens I can- 

 not be certain about it. 



15. The Common Pied Bosh-Chat or White-winged 

 Black Robin. (G08) Pratincola caprata. 

 A pair of live birds was brought to me with their nest and two fresh eggs, at 

 Kuhak, on the 7th May 1905. The female was not grey, as stated at page 60 

 of Vol. II of the Fauna of British India, nor dusky brown as stated by Lieut. 

 H. E. Barnes at page 199 of his " Birds of Bombay " ; but its entire upper 

 surface (excluding rump), head, neck, upper breast, tail and wings were a rich 

 brown. The rump was rufous, chin whitish, and bill, legs and feet nearly 

 black. Prior to this I had seen a solitary male at Kuhak on the 23rd April 

 1905. 



16. Hume's Chat. (617) Saxicola albinigra. 

 A couple of these birds was to be seen in the Mission Camp at Kuhak for 

 several days during March 1905. They were first noticed by me on the 12th of 

 March, and were usually to be seen perched on buildings and walls. I avoided 

 shooting them in the hope that they had come to breed, but after some time 

 they disappeared. 



17. The White-headed Chat. (619) Saxicola capistrata. 

 I have seen only one of these birds in Seistan, which I shot, at Kaod, on the 

 -26th March 1903. 



