337 



BIRDS COLLECTED AND OBSERVED AT TBULL DURING 



FIVE MONTHS IN 1898, AND NOTES 0?^ THEIR NIDIFICATION. 



By Major R. H. Rattkay. 



(^Read before the Bombay Natural History Society on 28«A of February, 1899). 



Having been stationed at Thull during the months February to June of 

 this year, I have made notes of the birds observed and collected there. It 

 may be of interest to many readers to hear from this out-of-the-way corner 

 of India. 



Thull is situated at the junction of the Kurram and Miranzai valleys, and 

 is about 2,500 feet high. The Kurram river runs past the Fort, and a small 

 stream joins it about a mile and- a-half below the Fort. Tbe surrounding 

 country is one mass of hills and broken ravines, covered with dry hill grass 

 and stunted bushes and trees. Once away from the river there is little water. 

 I have added notes on the nidification of some birds that have n.it apparently 

 been before found, and others little known. I have followed Oates and 

 Blanfurd as the latest work, in classification and names. 



1. CoRVUa CORAX (Linn.) — The Raven. 

 Common at all seasons. It breeds freely on the hills on ledges of rock and 

 trees. 



4. CoRVUS MACRORHYNCHUS (Wag.) -The Jungle Crow. 

 Very common and to a great extent takes the place of the common crow 

 of India. Breeds on trees in the hills. 



7. CoRVDS SPLENDENS (Vieill.)— The Indian House Crow. 

 Not common ; a few birds were to be seen in the vicinity of the fort and 

 village. 



9. CoRVCS MONEDDLA (Linn.)— The Jackdaw. 

 Rare, I only saw one bird. This bird was feeding in amongst a number 

 of C. machrorhynchus in newly ploughed fields. 



16. Dendrocitta rufa (Scop,)— The Indian Tree-pie. 

 One or two birds at the base of the hills about 7 miles from Thull and 

 only during February. I do not think the birds breed there but migrate to the 

 hills. 



24. Gaerulus lanceolatus (Vigors.) — The Black-throated Jay. 

 I saw these birds on the higher hills near Thull, they were common on the 

 Dargai hill during November and December, 1897. 



99. Troghalopterum lineatum (Vig.)— The Himalayan Streaked 

 Laughing Thrush, 

 Common during the winter on the hills up to about 7,000 feet ; they breed 

 on the hills round the neighbouring station of Parachinar, I found one nest 

 with young there on 30th July, 1898. 



105. Argya caudata (Dum.) — The Common Babbler. 

 Very common all the year, and breed freely. 



