1920.] Birds of Qnetta. 143 



Calandrella acutirostris. 

 C. a. acatirostrh Hume. 



Eight examples were obtained from 17. ii. to 2. viii., but it 

 does not remain as a rule in winter. Fairly common species, 

 though local and confined to the valleys o£ tlie foot-hills, 

 where it breeds in small colonies of half-a-dozen pairs. Three 

 nests were found — on 10. v. with one egg, on 31. v. with 

 four eggs, and on 8. vi. with four eggs, two being at 7000 feet 

 and one at ilOOO leet. They were small grass-lined scrapings, 

 two in the open and one under a tuft of grass, and were 

 constructed of coarse grass with cotton lining. In two cases 

 the eggs were white with numerous light brown spots, most 

 frequent at the base, while in the third instance the eggs 

 had a well-defined ring of spots at the larger end. Average 

 measurement of nine eggs: '78 bv '59 inch. 



Ammomanes deserti. 



^4. (/, iranicus Zarudny. 



A common resident in suitable places, preferring broken 

 ground with no vegetation, but never ascending the hills to 

 any height. Two nests were found — one on l.v. with four 

 eggs and another on 17. v. with three eggs. Both were 

 under small stones, and were composed of coarse grass-stalks 

 with a lining of finer grass. Eggs milky white, profusely 

 covered with grey and brown spots. 



This form agrees well with specimens at Tring from the 

 type-locality in East Persia. They appear darker than 

 A. d. pJioenicuroides on the upper parts. It would seem that 

 the latter form is the plain form, as there are specimens at 

 Tring- from Kandahar and Seistan, whereas iranicus is the 

 hill form of East Persia, South Afghanistan, and the whole 

 of Baluchistan. 



Galerida cristata. 

 G. c. magna Hume. 



An abundant resident, but not ascending above 7500 feet. 



Laying commences during the last days of April or in 

 early May. The nests found were mere scratchings lined 

 with grass, usually under the shelter of a small bush or stone, 



