44 



NOTES ON THE BIRDS OF CHITRAL. 

 {October 1901 to October 1902.) 

 By Capt. H. T. Fulton, d.s.o. 

 (Read before the Bombay Natural History Society on 16th June 1904.) 



The notes from which this article is compiled, were collected during 

 the " garrison " year, 15th October 1901 to 15th October 1902. 



Information gathered during so short a period cannot be considered 

 in any way to be full. I have been unable to find any previous note 

 on the subject, with the exception of an article published by Captain 

 MacMahon, C.S.I., C.I.E., F.Z.S. (" Notes on the Fauna of Chitral ") 

 printed in the Journal. Asiatic Society of Bengal, Vol. LXX, Part II, 

 No. I of 1901. 



This list will, therefore, I trust, be found useful to others who may 

 wish to take up the subject during their stay in the district. 



The bird-life of Chitral is most interesting on account of its variety, 

 which is due not only to the varied topographical character of the 

 country, but also to its position. 



I give a description of the country which is only intended to convey a 

 roujjh idea of its character. 



Chitral is a long narrow triangular strip of country, and is the basin of 

 the bead waters of the river variously known as the Mastuj, Chitral and 

 Kunar. The country is bounded on the north-west by Wakhan, on 

 the west by Kafiristan, on the south-east by Dir and on north-east 

 by Yasin. The river rises in the north-east and flows in a south-south- 

 westerly direction, passing out of the country at its south-western 

 boundary and flowing on through Afghanistan, joins the Kabul River. 



There are several large streams flowing into the river, of which the 

 Arkari meets it a few miles above Chitral and is the most important, 

 and the Turikho and Shishikho are also to be noted. 



The valleys are narrow and the mountain sides steep. 



The elevation of the country above sea-level varies from 25,500 feet 

 at Tirach Mir to about 3,600 feet where the river passes out of the 

 valley. The lowest pass into the country is about 10,000 feet. 



Roughly a line drawn east and west through the village of Chitral 

 divides the country into the wooded (south) and treeless (north) portions. 

 The wooded portion is mostly clothed with fine deodars up to an elevation 

 of about 13,000 feet, the poorer ground being covered with holly. 



