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



33. The European Hoopoe. (1066) Upupa epops. 

 (Biluchi, Murgh-i-Suleman.) 



I have seen several Hoopoes during the stay of the Mission in Seistan, hang- 

 ing about holes in walls during the summer months and believe they belonged 

 to this species. I regret not having shot any specimens. 



34. The Sykes's Nightjar. (1089) Caprimulgus mahrattensis. 



(Biluchi, Shapkor.) 



I have come across only this one species of Night Jar in Seistan and that 

 Very numerous during the summer months, i.«., from April to September, when 

 it is to be seen all over the country flying about at dusk. It usually breeds on 

 the gravel-strewn " dasht", laying no more than two eggs on the bare ground. 

 These are glossy, of a light-grey colour and blotched with pail purplish grey. 

 Owing to its colour it is extremely difficult to distinguish the bird when on 

 the ground, even during the day, and when seated on eggs it keeps so still 

 that it, at times, barely escapes being trod upon. I saw a couple pairing at 

 dusk on the 4th May 1905 and had previously taken their eggs at Kuhak 

 on the following dates : — 



On 24th May 1903 2 eggs. 



On 19th April 1904 2 do. 



On 28th do 1 egg. 



On 2nd June 1904 ,. 2 eggs. 



On two occasions, i.e., on 21st and 23rd May 1904, reports were brought to 

 me by different parties that the eggs of this species had been seen-, but on proceed- 

 ing to the localities where they had been seen, no trace either of the eggs or 

 the bird could be found. I had no reason to believe that either party was trying 

 to deceive me, as it meant loss of reward to the informers if no eggs were forth- 

 coming. The absence of both eggs and bird in both instances, therefore, tends to 

 the conclusion that this bird is in the habit of carrying its eggs about from place 

 to place when necessary. No regard appears to be shown as to suitability of 

 site, as two eggs I found were laid between two parallel camel tracks only a few 

 feet apart. A young bird was also brought to me on ihe 28th June 1904. 



The cry of the bird very much resembles that of a frog and is to be distinctly 

 heard all over the " dasht", after sunset, when the bird can be very easily 

 located. 



35. The Kock Horned Owl. (1168) Bubo bengalensis. 

 (Biluchi, Boom.) 



A badly injured live young bird not quite fully fledged and with wing and 

 tail-feathers mostly plucked was brought to me at Knhak, from Shaharistan, 

 on the 6th May 1905. I concluded it belonged to this species, not only from 

 its large size and the colouration of such of the feathers as it possessed, but 

 chiefly from the fact that its last toe-joints were naked. It had no "horn 

 tufts "; but these may have been plucked by the Seistani children into whose 

 hands the unfortunate bird fell, if they had had time to develop. 



