Ornithological Notes from Afghanistan. 53 
I found it there in June, evidently breeding. A male in the 
red-and-white dress had the testes much developed. 
This is another of the many instances observed of birds 
being stopped by so small a barrier as the Peiwar range. 
It is not as if suitable places were wanting in the Hariab 
valley ; for well-watered orchards are of frequent occurrence 
there. 
(296) HeMIcHELIDON SIBIRICA. 
Muscicapa sibirica, Gmel. Syst. Nat. 1. p. 935. 
Hemichelidon fuliginosus, Hodgs. ; Jerdon, B. Ind. 1. p. 458. 
Breeding in May and June. I have found this bird up 
to the limit of the pine-growth on the Safed-Koh. 
(299 bis) Buravis GRISOLA. 
Muscicapa grisola, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 828 (1766). 
Arrived in the Hariab valley about the middle of May, 
after which time it became very abundant, frequenting the 
valleys among tlie pine-forests, and also the apricot-orchards, 
which abound near all streams in this part of Afghanistan. 
I found the nest on the 3rd June, high up on a hill-side, 
at about 8000 feet. It was situated in the lowest fork of an 
edible pine (Pinus gerardiana), about six feet from the 
ground. The nest was composed of shreds of the bark of the 
juniper-tree, without any lining, except a few feathers, and 
contained four eggs, quite fresh, pale green, profusely freckled 
with light brown, especially towards the thick end. The 
position of this nest was rather unusual; but another I found 
was 1n a crevice of a ragged juniper stump. 
(307) CyoRNIS RUFICAUDA. 
Muscicapa ruficauda, Swains. Nat. Libr. x. (Flycatchers) 
p- 201. 
The Rufous-tailed Flycatcher is one of the commonest 
birds in the Hariab valley, extending far up (I have shot it 
at nearly 11,000 feet) on the Safed-Koh. It is about the 
last bird that is found in any abundance where the pine- 
growth ceases. Common, and breeding, as it was in May, 
June, and July, I never had the luck to find its nest. 
