Bir-ds of Kohat and Kurram. 271 



I found numerous nests of this species in a marsh near 

 Dandar, in the Kurram Valley. They are usually fairly well 

 concealed in clumps of reeds or grass, and are merely hollows 

 scantily lined with hits of these plants. The first eggs 

 are laid ahout the middle of June, the clutch varying from 

 five to seven. In colour they are creamy-white profusely 

 spotted with pale red, and the average measurements are 

 1*22 X '82 in. This species has hrought the art of skulking 

 to a high state of perfection, and it is only when the young 

 have emerged from the shell that it shews itself at all. 



[1402.] Gallinula chloropus. The Water-Hen. 



Ward, J. B. N. H. S. xvii. p. 9i5 (Kashmir). 



A rather scarce winter visitor to Kohat ; more numerous 

 at Dhand than elsewhere. It occurs chiefly on migration in 

 March and April, when it is frequently caught. It breeds 

 in the Kurram Valley in small numbers. I found a nest at 

 Dandar on the 9th of July. 



[1405.] FuLicA ATRA. The Coot. 



Marshall, J. B. N. H. S. xv. p. 353 (Quetta : common in 

 winter) ; Fulton, op. eit. xvi. p. 62 (Chitral : shot in March 

 at Drosh) ; Gumming, t. c. p. 693 (Seistan : a common 

 resident) ; Ward, op. cit. xvii. p. 945 (Kashmir). 



Abundant on Dhand tank throughout the cold weather, 

 occurring also in other suitable places in small numbers. I 

 met with a pair near Lachi as late as the 20th of May, so 

 that a few are probably resident. 



[1407.] Grus communis. The Common Crane. 



Rattray, J. B. N. H. S. xii. p. 345 (passes over Thall in 

 great numbers : often driven back after storms) . 



Large flocks pass over the District from the third week in 

 February till the end of March, returning in August and 

 September, but rarely halting except in the Latammar 

 Nullah or at Dhodha. 



Residents at Parachinar say that Cranes on migration fly 

 straight over the Safed Koh Range (lowest point 11,760 feet) 

 and not round the western shoulder, but that they are fre- 

 quently forced to turn back by storms. Major Magrath, too 



