Joiirneij in Pars, S.W. Persia. 507 



March 20th-25th. Dr. Blanford did not include this species 

 in the avifauna of Persia, but lias mentioned that it was 

 likely to occur there (t. c. p. .'2!) 1). 



155. * ? Rallus aquaticus Linn. ; Blanf. t. c. p. 288. 



While travelling on May 15th near Sliul (about 7000 ft.) 

 a Water-Rail, apparently of this species, rose from some 

 rushes in an open grassy place. I winged the bird, but 

 unfortunately failed to find it. 



150. COLUMBA PALUMBUS CASIOTIS (Bp.). 



Columba casiotis (Bp.) ; Blanf. t. c. p. 200. 



312. S ad. May 17th, near Aliabad (7000 ft.). 



The tips of most of the feathers on the neck-patch of this 

 specimen are white, and at a first glance the bird looks like 

 C. palumbus. But on turning up these feathers they are 

 found to be of the buff-colour characteristic of C. p. casiotis. 

 Dr. Blanford's specimens obtained in June had the neck-patch 

 buff ; the feathers of my bird are much abraded, and this 

 may be the cause of the loss of colour. Unfortunately I 

 did not keep more than one skin, chiefly, I confess, because 

 the bird looked like our Wood-Pigeon and was alwavs 

 much wanted for food. It was fairly common and breeding 

 throughout the oak-woods. There were fresh eggs and young 

 in a nest on June 3rd at 0000 ft. ; fledged and fully-grown 

 young on June 10th at 4000 ft. The note and general habits 

 arc the same as those of our bird. 



157. Columba intermedia Strickl. ; Blanf. t. c. p. 208. 



329. J ad. 



This specimen is pale blue-grey on the mantle and rump. 

 We did not see many Rock-Pigeons, and they were always 

 difficult to shoot, and when shot usually managed to fall 

 down some precipitous place whence it was impossible to 

 retrieve them. I am confident that I saw many birds with 

 white rumps breeding in the same places as the grey-rumped 

 birds. Is it possible that the grey-rumped bird is nothing 

 more than an individual variation of true ft livia '( Domestic 

 Pigeons, even when half-wild, arc often grey-rumped. 



