NOTES ON THE BIRDS OF CHITRAL. 917 



Family— MEROPID^. 



(1029) Merops apiaster — (The Edropkan Bee-rater.) 



Arrive the end of May, most passing on northward, but a number stay to 

 breed in the country at about 4,5u0 feet, young seen about in August. One 

 nest we dug out on 20th September contained a young bird, fully 6edged ; in 

 fact, it must have left the nest a long time. 



Family— ALCEDINIDiE. 



"(1035) Alcedo ispida—(TBE Common Kingpipher.) 



Several were seen in April on the main river between Nagar and Kesun, 

 Solitary birds were seen on the same part at intervals all the year. 



Family— UPDPID^. 



(1066) Upupa epop8 — (The Edropean Hoopoe.) 



Fairly common summer visitor, first seen about 4,500 feet at the end of 

 March going up a good deal higher at the end of April. I met it some way 

 above Laspur in May. 



Family— CYPSELID/E. 



(1068) Cypselux melba — (The Alpine Swift.) 



Common in summer passing overhead, arriving end of March. 



(1069) Ci/pselus apus — (The Edropean Swift.) 

 Very common summer visitor, arriving in mid-April. 



Family— CUCULID^. 



(1104) Cuculus canorus — (The Cdckoo.) 



Fairly common summer visitor from 4,5U0 feet up, first seen end of April. 



Family— PSITTACID^. 



(1141) Palaornis schisticeps — (The Slaty-headed Paroquet.) 

 Fairly common summer visitor at 4,000 feet up, arriving early in April. 



Family— ASIONID^. 



'(1156) Asio otiis — The Long-eared Owl. 



One specimen obtained at Drosh on 2nd May. 



(1159) Syrnium biddulphi — (Scully's WoOd-Owl.) 



Fairly common I fancy in winter about 4,5()0 feet, not observed in summer. 



(1167) Bubo ignavus — (The Great Horned Owl or Eagle Owl.) 



No skin, but there was a bird which could only have been of this species 

 hanging about the Lower Drosh farm for a week or so in December. 

 Fulton records getting two in December in Drosh. 



(1173) Scops ^m— (The Scops Owl.) 



Every orchard from 4,000 feet up seems to hold this bird in summer, not 

 noted in winter, the whistle-hoot '' hoo-hoo " was first heard in April. I 

 took some young in down of various ages from a nest on 13th July, and 

 most charming pets the comical little chaps made. 



