290 ASTOLA, A SUMMER CRUISE 



24th May 1877. The nests, which were precisely similar to the 

 nest of the English bird, i.e., composed of mud, open at the top, 

 and thickly lined with feathers, were stuck to the sides of the 

 beams which supported the roof of the verandah There were 

 ten or a dozen nests in all, containing fully-fledged young ones. 

 Fresh egg's were procurable, therefore, probably about the end 

 of March or beginning of April. The only specimen I procured 

 measured as follows : — 



L. W. T. Bf. Bg. Exp. 



7 475 362 31 059 1275 



770.— Certhilauda desertorum, Stanley. 



The Desert Lark was common at Jashk ; and, although only 

 out fur a few hours, I succeeded in securing four specimens. 

 The note is a clear monos}'llabic plover-like whistle, uttered 

 occasionally from the top of some rising piece of grouud. In 

 flight and appearance on the wing it reminds me more of the 

 Hoopoes than any other family. I have noticed it occasionally 

 on the maidan between Kurrachee and Clifton. Measurements 

 of the four specimens obtained as follows :- 

 Sex. 



s 



? 

 ? 

 ? 



Legs and feet China white, tinged yellow on tarsus ; irides 

 brown ; bill flesh-colored below, brownish horn above. 



848.— iEgialites cantianus, Lath. 



The Kentish Plover was breeding on the bare sandy maidan at 

 Jashk; * and though I failed in finding eggs, I caught a young 

 bird unable to fly, apparently about ten days old, on the 24th 

 May, so that fresh eggs were procurable probably about the end 

 of March or beginning of April. I shot one specimen, in win- 

 ter plumage however, which measured as follows : — 



Sex. L. W. T. Bf. Bg. Exp. 



<? 7. 437 1-75 062 075 1375 



Legs and feet plumbeous, dusky on the feet; irides blackish 

 brown ; bill black. 



890— Lobipes hyperboreus, Lin. 



The Red-necked Phalarope was plentiful at sea all along the 

 Mekran Coast, and in the Persian Gulf as far as I went ; that is, 

 up to Henjam. It seemed specially abundant off Jashk, Ras 

 Mesendom, and Henjam. They are, as a rule, very wild and con- 

 sequently difficult to procure ; and I only managed to shoot three 



* Latitude 25°38' north.— A. O. H. 



