BIRDS NESTING IN THE MURREE HILLS. 659 



exactly like those of our English Yellow Hammer, hut rather more 

 greenish in tinge. 



805. Cheudon Kashmiriensis. — The Kashmir Martin. 

 Common in the Galis, not found at Murree. These hirds were breed- 

 ing in great numbers under the verandah in the dak bungalow at 

 Changla and Dungagalis ; the nests are in most cases exactly like our 

 Enolish Martin, but the bird out here more often takes advantage of 

 a beam on which to rest its nest ; it is also a more familiar bird. 

 810. Ptyonoprogne rupestris. — The Crag-Martin. 



A few pairs of birds bred under some overhanging rocks — the place 

 was most difficult to get at, and only one or two nests were within 

 reach. Around Dungagali the birds were breeding in June, but at 

 Bhaganota, which is considerably lower, all eggs were hatched and in 

 many cases the young able to fly by the 6th June. The eggs are 

 marked more with a dark sepia than reel. 



822. Hirundo nepaLENSIS. — Hodgson's Striated Swallow. 



Common at Dungagali and Changla. I did not see birds at Murree, 

 I caught number of birds on nests for purpose of identification. Most 

 of the nests were in verandahs ; the birds were most tame and it was 

 most interesting watching them collecting mud for their nests. 



853. Oreocorys sylvanus.— The Upland Pipet, 



The birds were common enough round Murree and the Galis, but I 

 found very few nests. In one I found an egg of Cuculus canorus, our 

 common Cuckoo. This egg was absolutely fresh, while the ego-s of 

 foster parent were on the point of hatching out. It would be interest^ 

 ing to know what would have happened in this case. 



946. Geoinus squamatus.— The West-Himalayan Scaly-bellied 

 Green Woodpecker. 



A common bird everywhere in the hills. I found numerous nests 

 with eggs and young. 



950. Geoinus occipitalis.— The Black-naped Green Woodpecker. 



Not nearly so common as the last, but still common. I have no 

 doubt, in many cases where there were young birds in the nests I did 

 not carefully identify the birds. 



960. Hypopicus hyperythrus. — The Rufous-bellied Pied Wood- 

 pecker. 



A rare bird at Murree, but fairly common at Dungagali. Nests very 

 difficult to find, as it selects a much more enclosed and dense portion of 



