IN THE GULF OF OMAN. 287 



at the head of the Persian Gulf at the mouth of the river 

 Shat-el-Arab, extending up the Euphrates, at all events as 

 far as Busrah and Bagdad. He described the bird as having 

 a white body with black head, tail, and wings. On making 

 further enquiries I found that it was familiar to all of the 

 Telegraph people along the coast, and Captain Bishop told me 

 that he knew the bird well also, and that two were sent to the 

 Zoological Gardens in London last year. At first I thought 

 that the bird must be Corvus comix, but as every one assured 

 me that the plumage was pure black and white, and that there 

 was no grey about it, I must at present suspend my opinion.* 



After cruising about opposite to Henjam for three da}^, 

 attending to the repairs of the cable, we at length accomplished 

 that troublesome task and returned to Jashk, observing 

 nothing new en route. As we were delayed there for about 

 24 hours (25th May), I went on shore and shot four Desert 

 Larks (Certhilauda desertorum) , one Kentish Plover (sEgialitis 

 cantianus) and one English Swallow (Hirundo rustica.) The 

 only other shore birds I noticed were the Crested Lark (Galerida 

 cristata), a solitary Turnstone (Strepsilas interpres), aud a large 

 flock of Flamingoes {Phcenicopterus roseus.) The latter rather 

 astonished me, as I thought they had all left the country some 

 time before. However these were no accidental exceptions to a 

 general migration, as I noticed others in the Kurrachee Harbour 

 after I returned as late as the 23rd June. 



From Jashk we went to Charbar, anchoring for a few hours. 

 Whilst stores were being put on board, I sailed round the bay 

 in the gig, noticing several Gulls (Larus hemprichii), a few 

 Terns, Sterna bevgalensis, S. albigena, and a good sized flock of 

 S. bergii. The latter were sitting closely packed upon a small 

 rock about 10 yards from the shore, and being in full breeding 

 plumage, I fired into them with small shot (No. 8), bagging five 

 lovely specimens, four of which I preserved. I also shot a pair 

 of Larus hemprichii in full breeding plumage, with the conspi- 

 cuous white half collar. 



On the following day we arrived at Gwadar, but saw nothing 

 new ; a few Noddies were fishing just outside the bay. 



Next day we anchored off Pusni for a few hours, and thence 

 proceeded to Astola, reaching the island at about 6 P.M. 



* The crow, of which a specimen has been sent me, is clearly C. capellanus, Sclater, 

 P. Z. S. 693, pi. LXVI. An albenoid form of C. comix, but quite entitled, I 

 think, to specific distinction. I had heard of this crow, and assumed that it must be 

 C. scapulatus which v. Heughlin says he has heard of as occurring in Arabia. Directly 

 I received a specimen, vile thing as it was, I saw my mistake and described the bird as 

 new under the name of C. Cappeli, after Mr. Cappel, then Officiating Director-General of 

 Telegraphs ; luckily the P. Z. S. arrived just in time to enable me to withdraw the des- 

 cription from the last number of S. F; but it does seem to me about the most extra- 

 ordinary coincidence ever heard of that I should have named it cappeli, after 

 Mr. Cappel, aud Mr. Sclater capellanus, or the Chaplain Crow. — A. O. H. 



