778 Notes on the Ornithology of Candahar. [Aug. 



25. Cypselus apus, (L.) Common Swift. As in England, this bird 

 is later in appearing than the Swallow, and departs before it. It is 

 common during the summer, coursing and screaming as they chase 

 each other rapidly through the air. They were first seen on the 20th 

 February [!]. 



26. Corvus corax ( ? ), L. The Raven. Very common in Afghanistan, 

 especially during the winter. I have marked it doubtful, because I have 

 no specimen to refer to, but all its measurements, &c, agreed with 

 Fleming's description ; " Kargh." 



27. C '. frugilegns, L. The Rook. Found in large flocks during 

 winter in Candahar, searching for food in the ploughed lands. The 

 base of the bill is denuded as in the European bird. — They arrive in 

 February, which is there the coldest month, and depart in March. 



28. Fregilus graculus, (L.) The Chough. This is abundant 

 during the winter months, arriving in November from the hills to the 

 northward, and departing again about March. At Girishk on the 

 Helmund they sometimes appear in hundreds about sunset, coming 

 from the hills when the heats of day are passed, and settling among 

 the swampy beds along the river, where they procure abundance of 

 mollusca. Called 'Tsagh.' 



29. Pica caudata, (L.) European Magpie. Is found all the year 

 round from Quettah to Girishk, and is very common. — They breed in 

 March, and the young are fledged by the end of April. The nest is 

 like that of the European bird ; and all the manners of the Afghan 

 Magpie are precisely the same ; they may be seen at all seasons. [The 

 admeasurements of an Afghanistan Magpie are given in XV, 26. Capt. 

 Hutton's specimen is larger, the wing of it measuring 8j inches, and the 

 tail 1 foot ; but, on comparing it with several European specimens, 

 there can be no doubt of the spechical identity.*] 



* The wing- of Capt. Hutton's specimen is thus as long as that of my P. media, XIII, 

 393 ; but the latter species is distinct, and seems to be identical with Mr. Gould's subse- 

 quently named P. sericea, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1845, p. 2, from Chusan. I was positively 

 assured that P. media was shot in the Chilian Andes ; but as some Macao birds were 

 purchased with the S. American collection which yielded P. media, I strongly suspect 

 that these were not, in all instances (vide note to p. 471, ante), kept so distinct as was 

 asserted, but that two or three of them had become mixed up with the S.American 

 specimens. If I am right in this conjecture, there are now before me three well mark- 

 ed species of Asiatic Magpies,— viz. P. bottanensis, Ad Delessert, (v. megaloptera, nobis,) 

 /'. media, nobis, (v. sericea, Gould,) and the European P. caudata, (L.)., from Afghan- 

 istan. 



