450 A LIST OF BIRDS OBSERVED IN THE 



had barely settled down after this to their ordinary level, when 

 the reverse at Maiwand occurred, the whole country rose in 

 arms, and all rambling was effectually put a stop to. 



Probably out of the year I spent at Chaman, there were 

 at most seven months during which any ornithological work was 

 possible, and out of these certainly not one, from first to last, 

 during which my duties permitted me to carry on that work, 

 even within the narrow limits inside which we were allowed, 

 and it was moderately safe, to stray. 



Besides this the seasons were against me. Many more species 

 than those I met with must occur in ordinary seasons, but for 

 the last two years scarcely any rain had fallen, and in conse- 

 quence the country was almost an arid desert. 



Of Chatnan and its neighbourhood I have already, in my 

 previous paper, given a brief sketch, and I shall therefore at 

 once proceed to my list, only noting that my specimens were 

 named, or my naming of them confirmed by Mr. Murray, 

 except in a few doubtful cases, such as Scops giu, Sitta 

 neumayeri, Erythrospiza tnongolica, &c, &c, of which the 

 specimens, sent by Mr. Murray, were identified by the Editor. 



1.— Vultur monachus, Lin. 



The Cinereous Vulture is not uncommon at and in the vici- 

 nity of Chaman, and it breeds on the Khojak. I was unfortunate 

 in not obiaiuing eggs, but a full fledged nestling was brought 

 to me in May, which however I failed to rear. 



The numerous carcases strewn along the line of communi- 

 cations furnished these and other Vultures with a perpetual 

 feast, and doubtless under normal circumstances they would 

 have been less numerous than we found them. 



3 bis. — Gyps fulvescens, Hume. 



The Bay Vulture occurs, but is not so numerous as Vultur 

 monachcs. It is apparently a permanent resident, but I failed 

 to obtain any authentic information in regard to its nidification. 



6 bis.— Neophron percnopterus, Lin. 



The Egyptian Scavenger Vulture is very common, but is not 

 a resident. It arrives about the end of February, and soon after 

 commences to breed, the young being hatched in April or early 

 in May. It leaves Chaman during September, and by the end 

 of the month not one is to be seen. I observed several 

 Neophrons in the Bolan Pass at a much later date, but cannot 

 say whether they were percnopterus or ginginianus, as I did 

 not secure a specimen. 



