BIRDS OF SEISTAK. C8y 



I have seen as many as six together, presumably a whole family. I shot speci- 

 mens on 21st September 1904 and 5th May 1905. The latter measured 9-G5 

 inches in length. 



28. The Crested Lark. (874) Gahrita cristata. 

 (Biluchi, Chagok ; Persian, Karnalak.) 

 Most abundant about the grass-covered banks of the Helmand and its 

 branches, where it breeds from March to June, nests having been seen by me 

 on the 27th March 1904,20th April 1905, 29th April 1903, and on 16th May 

 and 13th June 1904. About September they leave the grassy banks of the 

 rivers and spread all over the " dasht". A specimen I shot on the 20th April 

 1905 measured 7*4 in length. On 23rd March 19051 winged, but unfortunately 

 lost, a crested lark with two conspicuous white feathers in its tail, presumably a 

 freak of nature. 



29. The Desert Finch-Lark. (878) Ammomanes phcenicuroides. 

 (Biluchi, Dasht-i-Chagok.) 



Fairly common on the "dasht " near Kuhak, where I frequently came across 

 small flocks of them during March and early in April 1905. On 24th April 

 1905 I saw them in pairs near Kuhak, when I managed to secure a specimen. 

 The same day I saw a bird carrying off some material for its nest. Later on, 

 during May and June, I saw solitary birds, on several occasions, along the 

 Nushki Trade Route on the return of the Mission to Quetta. Owing to its 

 colour, this bird is not very readily noticeable. 



30. The European Roller. (1024). Corracias garrula. 



(Biluchi, Sabzkarask.) 



A live specimen was brought to me at Ivhwaja Amad in April 1903, and on the 



21th April 1905 I found the country swarming with them, when I shot a 



specimen, length 13 inches. These birds were passing through and travelling in 



a northerly direction. 



31. The Blue-cheeked Bef-eater. (1028) Merops persicus. 



(Biluchi, Kurru.) 

 Very numerous in Seistan during the summer. They arrive in the country 

 from a westerly direction in April — the earliest arrivals in 1905 being on the 

 17th of that month, and leave about October. I shot a specimen, at Kuhak, 

 on the 22nd April 1905 (length 12*25) and found a pair boring their nest in a 

 low vertical sandy .cliff facing west, on 7th May 1905, near Khwaja Ahmad. I 

 was given to understand by the Biluchis of the country that they usually breed 

 in the banks of the Rud-i-Seistan, where they are to be found perching on the 

 swaying branches of the overhanging tamarisk and tall grasses which grow so 

 luxuriantly thereon. 



32. The Common Kingfisher. (1035) Alcedo ispida. 

 This little Kingfisher is common all over Seistan and appears to be a per- 

 manent resident. 



