G88 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XVI. 



18. The Isabelline Chat. (625) Saxicola isabellina. 

 This Chat was fairly common in Seistan during the spring of 1905. Speci- 

 mens were obtained by me close to the Rud-i-Seistan, at Kuhak, on the 31st 

 March and 3rd April. Two of these measured 6"5" and 6'75" in length. 

 19. The Desert Chat. (626) Saxicola deserti. 

 A specimen was secured by the Mission Taxidermist, at Khwaja Ahmed, in 

 January 1905. 



20. The Black Bird. Tardus merula. 

 While at Nasratabad, on 23rd January 1905, I saw a bird from a distance, in 

 the moat round the city fort, which very much resembled the black bird. It 

 disappeared before I could get a near view of it. 



21. The Tree-Sparrow. (779) Passer montanus. 

 Though ordinarily known as the Tree Sparrow, this species was to be found 

 in every building in the Mission Camp, at Kuhak, in April 1905. I did not 

 notice any in the month following, when they appear to have entirely deserted 

 these buildings. 



22. The Swallow. (813) Eirundo rustica. 

 Common in Seistan during spring and summer. The first bird to arrive in 

 the Mission Camp, in 1905, was on the 14th March. In 1904 they began laying 

 during the last week in March, making the usual cup-shaped mud nest in any 

 building to which they had access. I came across no nests in 1905. This was 

 probably due to the uncertain state of the weather, a reversion to winter 

 having set in during the last week of March which caused most of the birds to 

 disappear, at any rate from the buildings which they had begun to take posses- 

 sion of. 



23. The Masked Wagtail. (829) Mot acillaper sonata. 

 I have seen only one specimen of this bird, which I shot on the banks of 

 the Helmand opposite the Band-i-Seistan, near Kuhak, near some grazing 

 camels, on the 28th April 1905. It measured 737 in length. I have no reason 

 to think it uncommon in Seistan, which abounds in Wagtails. 



24. The Grey Wagtail. (832) Motacilla melanope. 

 25. The Grey-headed Wagtail. (833) Motacilla borealis. 

 26. The Black-headed Wagtail. (836) Motacilla fetdeggi. 

 The three preceding varieties of Wagtails are very common in Seistan. On 

 23rd April 1905, I noticed quite a large number of the three varieties in among 

 a flock of sheep which were grazing off the grass-covered banks of the 

 Rud-i-Seistan. They were attracted by the numerous insects which were being 

 disturbed by the sheep, and kept up with them partly by walking and partly 

 by flying. These birds were by no means shy, and allowed me to approach 

 within a few feet, so that I had a good opportunity of examining them closely. 

 27. The Desert-Lark. (854) Alamon desertorum. 

 Found throughout the year on the gravel-strewn " dashts" of Seistan where it 

 breeds, a young bird having been brought to me, at Kuhak on the 13th May 

 1904. This species is usually seen singly or in pairs, except in September, when 



