Birds of Southern Afghanistan. 123 



Coots arrived at Kandahar in enormous numbers in February, 

 but only remained about a month. None of the many speci- 

 mens examined showed any signs of breeding. 



176. PoRZANA BAiLLONi (Vieill.). 

 Kandahar, 1 ? , 10,2,81 ; Do., 1 ? , 17,2,81. 

 The only two specimens procured. 



177. PoRZANA PARVA (ScOp.). 



Kandahar, 1?, 7,2,81; Do., 1?, 17,2,81; Do., l^, 

 18,2,81. 



Rails were rather common in the wheat-fields on the borders 

 of the big Kandahar marsh in the month of July. I did not 

 meet with any during any other month. 



178. Ardea cinerea, Linn. 



Kandahar, 1^, 12,12,80; Do., 1 ?, 17,12,80; Do., IS, 

 2,1,81; Do., 1(J, 26,2,81. 



One also shot by Dr. Duke near Qnetta in November. A 

 winter visitor. Quite common in the Kandahar district 

 throughout the winter. 



179. Ardea alba, Linn. 

 Kandahar, 1 (^ , 24,2,81. 



Seen occasionally throughout the winter in the Kandahar 

 district; left us about the end of March. 



180. BoTAURUs STELLARis (Linu.). 

 Kandahar, 1 ?, 18,3,81. 



I believe, merely a bird of passage ; two or three were seen 

 between the middle of February and the middle of March. 



181. Falcinellus igneus, S. G. Gm. 

 KushdilKhan, Ic?, 2,5,81. 



One also shot by Dr. Duke at Quetta, date not noted. 



182. Anser, sp. 



I noticed two (and, I believe, three) different species of Geese 

 on the Argendab river during the winter; but neither I nor 

 my shikaree ever succeeded in getting near enough to secure 

 a specimen. I heard of one being shot by an officer near 

 Kandahar, and rode over at once to try and secure it, but. 



