Birds of the Zarafschan Basin. -1(57 



115. Athene bactriana. 



Athene bactriana Sharpe, Cat. B. ii. p. 137. 



<?. Samarkand. 23, 24 Oct., 1907. Nos. 108, 116. 



<? . „ 19 Dec, 1907. No. 245. 



c? . „ 14 April, 1908. No. 338. 



This is a common bird on the barren foot-hills, but I 

 only observed it from 1000 to 3000 ft. All my specimens 

 have the legs and toes densely feathered to the base of the 

 claws. 



116. Scops brucii. 



Scops brucii Sharpe, Cat. B. ii. p. 62. 



<J. Samarkand. 8 Sept., 1907. No. 10. 



A rare resident in the cultivated region, wherever there 

 are groves of trees. 



Severtzoff does not mention this very well-defined sub- 

 species of Scops giu. 



117. Circus cyaneus. 



Circus cyaneus Sharpe, Cat. B. i. p. 52. 

 <$. Bokhara. 14 Nov., 1907. No. 172. 

 ? „ 19 March, 1908. No. 304. 



118. BUTEO FEROX. 



Buteo ferox Sharpe, Cat. B. i. p. 176. 



<J. Samarkand. 15 Oct., 1907. No. 80. 



The autumnal migration of Birds-of-Prey is very noticeable 

 in the Zarafschan Valley. In October large numbers pass 

 over, going southwards. 



119. ASTUR RADIUS. 



Astur badius Sharpe, Cat. B. i. p. 109. 



cJ. Samarkand. 9 Sept., 1907. No. 17. 



<$ imm. Samarkand. 1 May, 1908. No. 398. 



? . Bokhara. 20 May, 1908. No. 493. 



This is the commonest Sparrow-Hawk of the country, 

 being found wherever the cultivation includes groves of trees 

 and thickets. It breeds in May as low as 600 ft. The 

 natives train Sparrow-Hawks, chiefly in order to fly at 

 Quails. But I cannot decide whether it is this species 



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