324 



found in a clutch. The eggs, as I then noted down, closely resembled those from Tchandyr, 

 but some were more pointed, although not more elongated than those. Frequently in clutches 

 of normal eggs one is found quite small, only as large as that of Caccabis, yellowish in colour, 

 with minute reddish spots. A somewhat aberrant nest I found on the 9th April, 1886, at 

 Ljutfabad, close to the Persian frontier. On a dry elevation on the edge of large patches of 

 close high reeds the nest was situated in a close thicket of last year's Glycirrhiza plants, and 

 under a few wind-broken stems of that plant. The nest was scratched out deep in the ground, 

 and was of an elongated oval shape, like the body of the bird, and the high sides were closely 

 covered with dry flags and stems. The nest contained then no egg ; but as the female sat close, 

 and let herself be driven off it three times in the day, it is probable that she would have laid on 

 the following day." 



The specimens figured and described are the adult male and female in my own collection. 



In the preparation of the above article I have examined, besides those in the British 

 Museum, the following specimens : — 



E Mus. H. E. Dresser. 



a, £ ad. Merv, Transcaspia, November (Pleske). b, £ , c, ? . Merv, winter 1887 (Grum-Grzimailo). 



