392 Capt. R. Meinertzhagen : 



Kestrels ( Tinnunculus alaudarius) were by far the commonest 

 Hawk seen, being particularly fond of the high river-banks 

 near Tekrit. Their shrill cries could be heard in every ruin, 

 as they circled round the great hall of Nebuchadnezzar at 

 Babylon, or under the massive Parthian arch of Ctesiphon. 



The Rock Pigeon [Columba livia) is plentiful both in the 

 towns and on the desert. All the large mosques form 

 roosting places for these birds, and at Kerbela many 

 thousands could be seen any evening on the golden dome 

 of Hussein^s Mosque. Doves, mostly Turtur risorius, fre- 

 quented the date groves of Basra, Bagdad, and Kerbela. 



Two species of Sandgrouse were observed. The Large 

 Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Pterocles m-enarius) was noticed 

 near Babylon and Samarra, whilst a large flock of Pin-tailed 

 Sandgrouse (Pleroclurus alchata) was seen amongst the 

 ruins of Assur. 



Black Partridge (Francolinus vulgaris) are found from 

 Mohammerah to Mosul in suitable places, and can frequently 

 be seen from the river-boat. The Chukor (Caccabis chukar) 

 was seen at Nineveh and among the rocky hills near Mosul, 

 and a brace of Quail (^Coturnix communis) on an island 

 near Tekrit. Seesee {Ammoperdix bonhami) are very 

 plentiful among the ruins of Assur, where large bags have 

 been made, and we saw a large covey on the river-bauk 

 a few miles north of Samarra. 



Coot {Fulica atra) occurred in suitable localities, but 

 never in large quantities. 



Great Bustard {^Otis tarda) seemed fairly plentiful around 

 Mosul, for we saw two lots of seven and fifteen respectively 

 near that place. This species has been killed as far south as 

 Bagdad. 



Of Waders, many were seen and but few identified. The 

 Plover (Vanellus vulgaris^ was well distributed, whilst many 

 Cream-coloured Coursers {Cursorius gallicus) were seen on 

 the desert near Babylon and Bagdad. The Red-wattled 

 Plover (Sarcogrammus indicus) seemed scarce, only three lots 

 being seen^ all north of Bagdad. One large lot of Curlew 



