of Southern Afghanistan and Keldt. 169 



as far as Kandahar, where they arrive in January, remaining 

 as late as the beginning of April. 



133. CoRvus MONEDULxV, Linn. 



The Jackdaws accompany the Rooks, and appear to remain 

 constantly in their comj)any. 



134'. Pica rustica (Scop.). 



Common in gardens, groves, and wooded hills everywhere 

 from Kelat northwards. It is not now met with, however, in 

 the many suitable localities in and about Quetta. Probably 

 it has found itself too tempting a mark for the sportsmen in 

 the Bi'itish regiments, and has migrated, to quieter neigh- 

 bourhoods. 



135. Fregilus graculus (Linn.). 



Common throughout the winter all over the plateau, but 

 does not, I think, breed in our region. 



136. Sturnus vulgaris, Linn. 



Common in winter, but not so numerous as one or both of 

 the next species. 



137. Sturnus purpurascens, Gould. 



Colonel Swinhoe named the two specimens of the Purple 

 Starling he took to England from Kandahar S. purpurascens. 

 Mr. Hume, on the other hand, ascribed all the seven skins I 

 sent him to S. nobilior. Mr. Sharpe now tells me that he has 

 found three species of Starling among the Kandahar birds in 

 the Hume Collection, probably Hume's S. nobilior, and 

 perhaps S. purpurascens, in addition to *S^. vulgaris. He 

 will, no doubt, be kind enough to add a note to this paper, 

 giving the correct names of the species. 



138. Pastor roseus, Linn. 



It may be remembered that Mr. Blanford ('Eastern Persia/ 

 ii. p. 267) calls attention to the extraordinary fact that the 

 Rose-coloured Pastor, which spends the winter in India and 

 breeds in Asia Minor, has not been observed in Central or 

 Southern Persia. Its occurrence in immense flocks in spring 

 and autumn on migration throughout Southern Afghan- 

 istan indicates that its path lies across Afghanistan to the 



