264 Lieut. C. H. T. Whitehead on the 



After the Goshawk and Peregrine, this is the favourite 

 amongst local falconers. The price ranges from Rs. 7 to 

 Rs. 14 for a good female. 



[1260.] Falco subbuteo. The Hobby. 



Fulton, J. B. N. H. S. xvi. p. 60 (Chitral : one specimen 

 obtained in May) ; Rattray, t. c. p. 663 (rare in the Murree 

 Hills ; breeds) ; Ward, op. cit. xvii. p. 729 (breeds in the 

 higher hills of Kashmir). 



Mr. Donald states that this species is fairly common in 

 spring and that he has observed it as late as May. I came 

 across three individuals in beautiful adult plumage in 

 February near Lachi ; they were flying backwards and for- 

 wards, sparring at each other, and occasionally perching 

 in a tree close by, while constantly uttering a cry which 

 sounded like " gyak-gyak.^' 



[1263.] iEsALON REGULUs. The Merlin. 



Ward, J. B. N. H. S. xvii. p. 729 (widely distributed in 

 ■winter). 



This bird is fairly common from October till the middle of 

 March ; it is more often, seen about the grass-farm and the 

 Yarma and Lachi plains than elsewhere. It migrates over 

 the Samana in March. It is seldom trained in this district. 



[1264.] ^SALON CHiCQUERA. Thc Rcd-hcadcd Merlin or 

 Turumti. 



An occasional visitor, but by no means common. I have 

 only twice seen the Turumti ; on one occasion the bird shot 

 down just in front of me to take a Starling flying in to 

 roost, and started to tear it up close by, giving me a splendid 

 view through my glasses. Mr. Donald says that he has met 

 with this species in Kohat in most months of the year. He 

 has a great opinion of its courage, and has trained it to take 

 Rollers (a bird a great deal bigger than itself), while he has 

 known a pair to tackle a Blue Rock-Pigeon. It is a fairly 

 common resident, he says, in the adjoining Districts of 

 Peshawar and Mianwali. Major Magrath has also found it 

 not uncommon in Bannu. The wide open plains of these 

 Districts are more to its liking than the confined valleys of 

 Kohat. 



