£92 JOURNAL, BOMB A Y NA TUBAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XVI. 



47. The Common or Grey Quail. (1355) Coturnix communis. 



(Biluchi, Karrak.) 



This appears to be the only Quail found in Seistan. At any rate it was the 

 only variety shot by the officers of the Mission. It was fairly numerous among 

 cultivation during the autumn of 1903 and spring of 1904. The largest bag 

 which fell to one gun was 12 brace. During the severe and prolonged winter 

 of 1904-05 it was very scarce. Nests were obtained on the following dates : — 

 22nd March 1904, at Zahidan (1 fresh egg). 

 30th March 1904, at Kuhak ( do. ). 

 25th April 1904, at Kila-i-Konah (10 eggs in one nest). 

 48. The Seesee. (1371) Ammoperdix bonhami. 



This bird appears to be rather scarce in Seistan, a few only having been 

 seen on the mud bluffs at the edge of the"dasht" near Kuhak. The only 

 specimen shot on this Mission was at lower Khwaja Ali on the Helmand on 

 Yth February 1903, while I saw a few birds at Peshawaran, 12 miles north of 

 Seistan, on 20th December 1904. 



43. The Black Partridge or Common Francolin. (1372) Francol'mm 



vulgaris. (Biluchi, Port.) 



An extremely common bird throughout Seistan. It affords splendid sport, 

 the largest bags which fell to two guns* in one day being 28 brace on 14th 

 October 1904, and 22| brace on 23rd November 1904, at Milak. The extensive 

 tamarisk jungles which cover the banks of the numerous streams in Seistan 

 provide ample protection against the extermination of this bird by the people of 

 the country, who have no respect for the breeding season. The plan usually 

 adopted by the Seistani for its destruction is ingenious, if primitive. When out 

 shikaring, he usually carries about with him, in addition to his muzzle-loader 

 and pumpkin flasks containing powder and shot, a large square piece of khaki- 

 coloured cloth, with a hole cut out in the centre some 5" or 6" in diameter. 

 This cloth he usually carries stretched out before him as a screen, two tamarisk 

 boughs tied in the centre in the form of an x being used for the purpose. On 

 observing his quarry, he rests the screen on the ground and fires from behind 

 it through the opening. Numerous birds are also captured by means of traps 

 of various patterns, in making which the Biluchi, especially, is very clever, the 

 material used being tamarisk boughs or twigs, sheep's horns and home-made 

 twine. 



The Black Partridge is a permanent resident in the country and breeds from 

 April to June, eggs having been brought to me at Kuhak on the following 



21st April 1904 (9 fresh). 

 23rd May 1904 (5 fresh). 

 4th June 1904 (4 fresh). 

 6th June 1904 (10 highly incubated). 

 The eggs obtained on the 6th June 1904 I had placed under a fowl and they 

 were hatched on the 9th June. 



» Major T. W. Irvine, I.M.8., and Captain H. C. Bell. 



