1920.] Birds of Quetta. l5o 



noticeable from the end oE August to tbe middle of 

 Se{»tember, when they are very noisy and can be found in 

 gardens far from water. They are also a summer visitor 

 in snuill numbers, and most large reed-beds have a breeding 

 pair in summer, where their harsh rasping love-song in- 

 variably betrays their presence. 



Nests were found on 19. v., 1. vi., and 1. vi. with two, four, 

 and three eggs respectively. They were deep cups of reeds, 

 and all the eggs were particularly handsome, having a 

 greyish-white ground-colour, boldly blotched with reddish, 

 purplish, and dark brown spots. A nest was also found at 

 Khushdil on 19. vi. containing three half-fledged young. 



Acrocephalus arundinaceus. 



^4. a. zarudniji Hart. 

 A female was obtained by Zugmeyer at Kelat on 4. x. 

 I did not meet with this bird, 



Acrocephalus dumetorum Blyth. 



I shot a female on 4. iii. Not otherwise observed. 



Acrocephalus agricolus. 

 A. a. agrk-olas Jerd. 



This noisy little bird was only seen on autumn passage. 

 It commenced to arrive on 22.viii., and was last seen on 

 1. xi., the bulk moving during- the last week of Au<i;ust and 

 the first half of Septend>er. I had quite expected to find 

 it lu'eeding in haunts which well suited its habits, but not 

 one was seen in either spring or summer. 



Hippolais languida (Hemp. & Ehr.), 



A scarce sunnner visitor, only found nesting at one place, 

 on the eastern slopes of Tukatu betv.een 7500 and 8000 feet. 

 It appears to arrive in early Ajuil, the first being obtained 

 on 6.iv. A nest found on ol. v. was in a small bush, 

 18 inches from the ground, and was made of coarse grass, 

 fibre, and hair with a wool and cotton lining. Eggs pinkish 

 white with a few black and deep purple spots evenly 



