1920.] Birds of Quetta. 187 



Ammopei'dix giiseogularis. 



A. (J. ijriseo(jidari$ (Brandt). { = A)nmoj>erdi,h bonhanii 



Blanford, F. B. I.) 



A coiiiinon resident in suitable localities, both in the low 

 hills and in the plains. The word " shooting " when ap))lied 

 to this inveterate little runner is most misleading. The 

 word "hunting'" would l)e more appropriate, for it is 

 necessary to run, and run hard, over abominable ground to 

 be successful. 



Three nests with eleven, seven, and nine eggs respectively 

 were found on 18. iv., 10. v., and 12. v. between 5000 and 

 8000 feet. In one case the nost was under a small rock, and 

 in the other cases under a camel-thorn bush, being mere 

 scr.itchings with a few pieces of grass ;ind leaf at the l)ottom 



Francolinus francolinus. 



1 shot an adult male of the Black Partridge at C^hietta on 

 3. xii. II). The nearest place to Quetta where this bird 

 normally occurs is at Sibi, on the borders of Sind. It is 

 therefore possible that ni}' specimen had strayed from Sibi 

 or that it was an escaped bird, for natives often keep it. 

 The record being so unsatisfactory I ate the bird. The 

 Quetta race should be F. /". henrici Bp., which ranges from 

 Seistan to Sind. 



Coturnix coturnix. 



( '. c". (U)luriiix (L.). 

 Occasionally seen in the sjiring and autumn. I saw one 

 in the Spin Karez on 'J.viii. ; and a nest with eggs, now in 

 the Quetta. ]\ruseuni, was found by a native at the end of 

 May lld-l near the town. 



Rallus aquaticus. 

 R. a. korezexoi Sar. 



I obtained a male on l.iii. and a female on 215. xi. There 

 is also a specimen in the Quetta Museum obtained on 14. xii. 

 No other records. 



All these specimens are of the pale Asiatic race. 



