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LIST OF THE BIRDS OF BALUCHISTAN. 



By 



Lt.-Coi,. H. Delme Eadcliffe, F.Z.S. 

 (Eoyal Welch Fusiliers). 



Compiled with reference to the Fauna of British India "Birds " by Gates 

 and Blanford. The number in brackets after the English name is that of 

 the species in the Fauna. 



There is no doubt that more species will be added to this list in future, 

 especially amongst the warblers, chats, wagtails, larks, swifts, owls, and 

 hawks of which this I am sure does not give a complete list. Additions too 

 will be made among the plovers, gulls and other sea-birds from the coasts of 

 Baluchistan. 



Family: Cokvid^. 



1. Coruus corax . — The Raven. [I]. 



Very common at all seasons. Many frequent the Cantonments at 

 Quetta. This species breeds in the Baluchistan Mountains. Capt. (now 

 Lt.-Col.) Marshall, Royal Garrison Artillery, in his Notes mentions that he 

 found a nest with fresh eggs on March 24th. I saw half-fledged young 

 birds near Killa Abdullah and Shela Bagh in May 1912. There are several 

 specimens in MacMahon Museum at Quetta. 



2. Curvus umbrinus — The Brown-necked Raven. [2]. 



Common in the Quetta Valley during the winter months, though I never 

 observed this species in summer. I obtained a fine male specimen at 

 Samungli near Quetta on November 14th, 1911, and presented the skin 

 to the Bombay Natural History Society, and shot another good specimen 

 in my garden in Quetta in November 1913. 



3. Corvus frugilegus . — The Rook. [fi]. 



Frequents the Quetta Valley in flocks during the cold months of winter, 

 but I never observed it in summer. It certainly does not breed in Balu- 

 chistan. There are two specimens in the MacMahon Museum at Quetta. 



4. Corvus monedula. — The Jackdaw. [9]. 



I have occasionally observed this species in cold winter months, inter- 

 mingled with the flocks of Rooks frequenting the Quetta Valley, but never 

 observed it at any other time of year. There is a specimen of this 

 species in the MacMahon Museum at Quetta. 



5. Pica rustica. — The Magpie. 



Common in Baluchistan at all seasons, specially in the higher valleys, 

 where it breeds. It is very common at Ziarat, 8,000 feet above sea-level 

 and breeds in the Juniper Forest there. Marshall mentions finding a nest 

 with 3 fresh eggs on May 15th. In winter it comes down to the Quetta 

 Valley, and I have seen a few in Cantonments there. I shot a fine male 

 specimen at Ziarat in June 1912. There is one specimen shot at Pishin, 

 in the MacMahon Museum at Quetta. 



6. Graculus eremita. — The Red-billed Chough. [29]. 



This species frequents the Quetta Valley in flocks in the cold winter 

 months. In summer it is only found in the higher mountains. Nests with 

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