776 Notes on the Ornithology of Candahar. [Aug. 



the young were once brought to me in the end of May, scarcely fledged ; 

 tliis is curious, as at Neemuch the Cheel breeds in December and 

 January. 



11. Gypaetos [barbatus ? 6?.] himachalanus, nobis. This bird is 

 identical with that which is so common throughout the Himalaya 

 mountains, and possesses the dark pectoral band observable in the latter, 

 and which (from its not being mentioned as characteristic of the Euro- 

 pean species) has led me to entertain doubts of its being the true G. 

 barbatus. — They were common throughout the whole of Afghanistan, 

 and were first seen soaring over the rocks of the Bolan Pass ; they were 

 again met with around Candahar, and at Girishk on the Iielmund. — 

 I never saw a single mature individual either in the Himalaya or in 

 Afghanistan without the pectoral band, as you tell me is the case with 

 Burnes's figure of an Afghan specimen. 



12. \_Gyps bengalensis, (Shaw) :] Vultur leuconotus, Gray, in Hard- 

 wicke's ' Illustrations.' This bird was not uncommon around Candahar 

 during the summer months, but departed as the winter approached. 

 I saw it also at Girishk on the Helmund. 



13. Neophron percnopterus, (L.) Common also during the summer, 

 but departed in autumn.* 



14. [Bubo bengalensis, (Franklin).] Not uncommon among the 

 rocks near Candahar ; the yearling specimen sent was brought to me 

 when only covered with down, and was fed with raw meat, and kept in 

 a box till I left Candahar, when I killed and skinned it, but before it 

 had attained its full plumage. 



15. Otus vulgaris, Fleming. Common at Candahar. 



16. O. brachyotus, (L). This and the last were common among 

 the ruins of the old city of Candahar, about three miles from the 

 modern town ; it was ruined by Nadir Shah. 



17. Ephialtes [lettia?, Hodgson]. This did not appear to be 

 plentiful, as I only saw one specimen ; it was identical with one com- 

 mon at Neemuch and Bareilly, but whether it be so with the European 

 scops I cannot say, as my specimen is lost. 



18. Athene bactrianus, mihi, n. s. 1 [ Strix persica (?) Nouv. Diet. 



* The three last mentioned species were seen on the 1st of March, two stages south of 

 Candahar. The Gypaetos made the Vultures quit their prey. 



