MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 827 



Sparrow, Fasser domesticus indicus. Abundant at Basrah, breeding 

 throughout the summer. 



Yellow-throated Sparrow, Gymnorhis flaoicollis. Arrives at Basrah in 

 April, breeding in holes of date trees generally high up, eggs obtained 21st 

 May, 25th May and 4th June. 



Desert Bullfinch, Erythrospiza yithayinea crassirosttis. Found breeding- 

 near Ahwaz at the end of March 1913. 



Desert Bullfinch, Mhodospiza obsoleta. Found nest with 5 eggs near 

 Ahwaz at the end of March 1913. 



Black Headed Bunting, Emheriza melanocephala. Shot 3 out of a large 

 flock near Shuster, 19th April 1908. 



Swallow, Hirundo rustica. Breeds at Basrah, March-May. 



Eed-rumped Swallow, JI. rufula. Observed two pairs near Ahwaz in 

 April 1908 and also two pairs near Shuster, which were beginning to build 

 on 19th April 1908. In May 1913 1 could find no trace of these birds 

 near Shuster, probably having been driven from their breeding place, 

 which was then occupied by the Common Swallow. 



White Wagtail, Motacilla alba. Common at Basrah in winter where it is 

 generally seen in large flocks. 



Red-throated Pipit, Antlius cervinus. Shot one near Shuster, 19th April 

 1908, and one at Basrah, 6th April 1909. 



Egyptian Nightjar, Caprimulyus ayyptius. Nightjars breed near Basrah 

 at end of May and beginning of June, but it is not quite certain, I think, 

 if it is this species. 



European Roller, Coracias yarrula. ' A few pairs breed at Basrah, but it is 

 not nearly so common as the Indian Roller. All the Rollers I observed up 

 the Gargar River were of this species, where they breed in holes in the high 

 banks of the river. 



Indian Roller, C. indica. Common at Basrah, breeding towards the end 

 of April in holes in palm trees. I have seen young just out of the nest at 

 the end of May and also at the end of July, so it probably breeds twice 

 during the year. 



Blue-Cheeked Bee-eater, Meropspersicus. Arrives in the spring, breeding at 

 the beginning of June in mounds on the desert some miles north-east of Basrah. 



Common Bee-eater, M. apianter. Seen at Basrah in the spring, but passes 

 on. Found breeding up the Karun and Gargar Rivers, young just hatched 

 at the end of May. 



Green Bee-eater, M. viiidis. I have not observed this species at Basrah. 



Pied Kingfisher, Ceryle rudis. Generally distributed, a few pairs breeding 

 at Basrah. A few miles below Kurna, there was a fairly large colony of 

 these birds. Also noticed on Karun River. 



Indian Common Kingfisher, Alcedo ispida benyalensis. Resident at Basrah 

 and not uncommon, breeds in May. 



White-breasted Kingfisher, lialcyon symrnensis. Resident and very 

 common at Basrah, where it breeds. Eggs taken at the end of April and 

 beginning of May. 



Hoopoe, TJpupa epop)S. Not uncommon at Basrah in autumn and spring. 



Barn Owl, Strix flammea. Occurs at Basrah and has been known to breed 

 there. 



Egyptian Vulture, Neophron percnopterus . Common at Ahwaz, where it 

 breeds. I took three nests there early in April. Once or twice observed at 

 Basrah in winter. 



Marsh Harrier, Circus ceruyinosus. Breeds in the marshes north of Basrah. 



Sparrow Hawk, Accipiter nisus. Not uncommon at Basrah in winter. 



Persian Turtle Dove, StveptopeUa turtur arenicola., Migratory at Basrah, 

 where it breeds May- June. 



