184/.] Notes on the Ornithology of Candahar. 785 



position of the identity of this bird with the Kakerlik, which is also 

 named from its cry. 



69. [Caccabis~] chukar, (Vigors). Very common among the hills. 

 "Chowk." 



70. [Francolinus vulgaris, Stephens, pale (individual?) variety.] 

 This was brought to me as a true Black Partridge (Fr. vulgaris), but 

 it is evidently distinct, and is probably the Perdix pallida, Gray, of 

 Hardwicke's ' Illustrations.' The Black Partridge is called " Taroo" by 

 the Afghans ; but as I never saw a specimen killed during a two years' 

 residence in the country, I am inclined to think that the bird so called 

 is the one here alluded to. [Perdix pallida, Gray, is evidently a pale 

 variety of Francolinus pictus, (Jardine and Selby,) or P. Hepburnii, 

 Gray, as that systematist places it, viz. " P. Hepburnii, var. pallida." 

 Capt. Hutton's bird I consider to be an analogous (and probably indi- 

 vidual) pale variety of the female Fr. vulgaris. 



71. Coturnix communis, Bomaterre. Quails arrive about the end 

 of March, and in summer when the crops are ripening are very numer- 

 ous. They are then snared in nets by the aid of a decoy whistle, and 

 are kept singly in cages for fighting, of which sport (?) the Afghans are 

 extremly fond, every urchin being seen with a Quail in his hand during 

 that season. The rage for gambling is so great among the people, that 

 instances have been known of a husband pawning his wife to pay his 

 gambling debts, and if not punctually redeemed she becomes the pro- 

 perty of the holder, and is either kept or sold as he pleases ! 



72. [Pterocles arenarius, (Pallas.) Khyrgut, or Syah-reem ; also 

 called Tuturuk in Pushtoo, expressive of the bird's cry ; and Bovra 

 kurra, or " black breast." Burnes figures both sexes, from Cabool : 

 and the Society possess an Afghanistan specimen.] 



73. Pt. exustus, Tern. Common throughout the southern parts of 

 Afghanistan. I have seen their nests on the bare ground in August, 

 and the young ready to fly by the end of September. They occur also 

 in Scinde, and in the Bhawulpore (or Daoodpootra) country. " Sas- 

 seenea." 



73, a. Struthio camelus, L. Ostrich. This bird is said by the Af- 

 ghans to inhabit the great southern desert which skirts Afghanistan 

 and runs onward into Persia. I suspect, however, the story has 

 arisen from the circumstance of its eggs being brought round via 



