262 Lieut. C. H. T. Whitehead o)i the 



[1243.] AsTUR PALUMBARius. The Gosliawk. 



Ward, J. B. N. H. S. xvii. p. 729 (rare). 



This species occurs on passage, but very rarely. 



Mr. Donald says that nets are set iu four or five gorges 

 in the independent territory north of Kohat. These nets 

 average twelve feet in height, have a two-inch mesh, and are 

 made to fit roughly the bottom of the gorge, while they are 

 so arranged as to collapse when struck by anything. The 

 Goshawk is thus occasionally taken in spring and autumn. 

 Bonelli's Eagle is its chief enemy and pursues both wild and 

 trained birds for its prey. This is the favourite Hawk with 

 the local Khans, but it is an expensive luxury, females costing 

 from Rs. 150 to Rs. 200 (£10-jei3), and males from Rs. 50 

 to Rs. 70. 



[1244'.] AsTUR BADius. The Shikra. 



Ward, J. B. N. H. S. xvii. p. 729 (Kashmir: rare). 



A summer visitor, arriving towards the end of March. 

 Nests commonly in the Samilzai Valley. Large numbers 

 are snared by means of a light cage formed of fine netting 

 stretched over supports, and covered with nooses ; a live 

 Quail is used as a bait. They are used for hawking Quail, 

 and their price varies from 2d. to Is. 



[1247.] AcciPiTER Nisus. The Sparrow-Hawk. 



Rattray, J. B. N. H. S. xii. p. 344 (Thall : occasionally 

 seen ; breeds in the Safed Koh) ; Marshall, op. cit. xv. 

 p. 352 (not common ; occurs in spring at Quetta) ; Fulton, 

 op. cit. xvi. p. 59 (Chitral : shot one in May at 8000 ft.) ; 

 Ward, op. cit. xvii. p. 729 (a resident in Kashmir). 



Occurs on migration in spring and autumn. Colonel 

 Rattray mentions a young bird in down being brought to 

 Parachinar in July from the Safed Koh. Mr. Donald tells 

 me that this species breeds freely in Tirah, which lies just 

 north of our limits, and that every autumn some thirty or 

 forty individuals are snared along the Kachai stream, bv 

 means of a drop-net set up in the open, with a fine network 

 cage containing Sparrows suspended in front. The Hawk 



