Birds of Koliat and Kurram. 22 1 



alarm-notes, too, are very similar. The two nests that I came 

 across migrlit well have been those of the Redbreast. The first 

 was placed on the ground under shelter of a juuiper-root 

 (not in a hole) at 11,000 feet, and contained three eggs just 

 hatching ; they were cream-coloured, with a darker zone near 

 the larger end, and differed a good deal in size. The second 

 was in a similar position at 8000 feet, and had four eggs of 

 similar type, but very faintly tinged with green and slightly 

 smaller, averaging -66" x '48'''. 



[661.] Thamnobia cambaiensis. The Brown-backed 

 Indian Robin, 



Rattray, J. B. N. H. S. xii. p. 340 (a common resident) ; 

 Ward, op. cit. xvii. p. 481. 



686. c? ad. Kohat, 1760 ft., 16th March. 



A fairly common resident in the plains. As Major 

 Magrath notes, it differs from its down-country relatives in 

 shunning gardens and cultivated spots, preferring arid stony 

 localities, and shewing a marked partiality for graveyards. 

 It does not ascend the hills to any height, and in the 

 Kurram Valley we did not find it above 3000 feet. 



[666.] Merula maxima. The Central Asian Blackbird. 



Ward, J. B. N. H. S. xvii. p. 482 (breeds in Kashmir at 

 high altitudes). 



295. Juv. Safed Koh, 10,500 ft., 1st July. 



Bill, gape, and eyelid brownish yellow; tarsus fleshy 

 brown ; iris bruwn. 



Apparently very rare, this example being the only one 

 met with. In July 1908 I found this fine bird fairly 

 common outside our limits near the head of the Kaghau 

 Valley (Hazara, N.W. F. P.), between 12,000 and 

 13,500 feet, either in parties of from three to ten, or 

 occasionally alone. It was very wild, and it was with 

 difficulty that I procured three examples (now in the British 

 Museum). I never heard it utter the rattling alarm-cry of 

 M. vulgaris, but only the low chuckle characteristic of the 

 genus. Usually found feeding on small white caterpillars, 

 which were very common on the grassy slopes, or amongst 

 rocks, but sometimes in juniper-scrub. 



