Birds of the Pamir Range. 53 



as the preceding. In September 1878 these birds were seen 

 in groups of six or seven, picking up bones in the forsaken 

 camp of the Alai detachment ; they catch hares and mar- 

 mots, of which I found the remains in their stomachs ; and 

 they also feed on carrion. 



3. Haliaetus leucoryphus, Pall. 



Pallas's Sea-Eagle is often seen near the Pamir lakes in 

 August, also near Kara-kul, Ran-kul, and Jeschil-kul, where 

 some old birds and a young one (three years of age) were 

 shot. The old birds do not breed every year, but only every 

 second year, in the same manner as Gypa'etus barbatus and 

 the large Vultures. In the year in which they do not breed 

 they moult in June, and lead a migratory life until winter, 

 during which period many are seen on the Pamir. 



4. BuTEo FEROX (Gmcl.) . 



The Long-legged Buzzard feeds on the different Arvicola, 

 which are common on the Pamir and innumerable on the 

 Alai. It was seen near Ran-kul in July and August; but I 

 do not know where it breeds. The dark variety of this 

 species {B. aquilinus, Hodgs.) is also common enough. 



5. MiLvus ATER (Gmel.). 



The Black Kite was seen near the camp of the Alai de- 

 tachment on the Bash-Alai in July. 



6. Falco hendersoni, Hume. 



Hume's Saker was obtained on the Alai at the entrance of 

 the Kysii-art gorge ; it was also seen on the Pamir. The 

 stomach of the specimen I got contained field-mice {Arvi- 

 cola) . This species probably breeds here *. 



* I have since found in my collection a young female of F. hendersoni, 

 shot on the 11th August on the tableland near Lake Sairam-kiil, north 

 of Kuldja, at about 7000 feet, in the Tian-shan system. I have also been 

 informed that it was observed on the Yulduz tableland at 8000 to 9000 

 feet, which also belongs to the Tian-shan system. Combining my obser- 

 vations and information with those of Colonel Prjevalsky, I find that F. 

 hendersoni is generally spread over the tablelands of Central Asia. 



