Major J. Biddulph on the Birds of Gilgit. 39 



believe to have been N. percnopterus, from its appearing 

 larger than N.ginginianus, and having darker bill and wings. 

 I had a good view of it at about twenty-five yards for some 

 minutes. Severtzoff mentions it in Central Asia^ whence this 

 was, no doubt, a straggler, like Lanius homey eri and others. 

 I never saw another. 



5. Gypaetus barbatus (Linn.). 



The Bearded Vulture is very common at all times of the 

 year. In the summer it is generally seen at a mean eleva- 

 tion of about 8000 feet ; in winter it comes low down, and 

 may often be seen seeking its food close to habitations. 



6. Falco peregkinus, Tunst. 



Always about on the faces of rocky precipices. A number 

 are caught always in October, which is the great season for 

 catching them. I procured one specimen, a male, just com- 

 mencing to get the grey feathers on the back, shot on the 

 14th April, at an elevation of 5000 feet. Dimensions as fol- 

 lows — length 16"5 inches, expanse 38'2, wing 12'4, tail 6*7, 

 tarsus 1*85, middle toe 2, culmen 0*8, bill from gape 1*25. 

 Cere and legs greenish yellow ; irides dark brown. Weight 

 1 lb. 4. oz. 



The Peregrines breed in the neighbourhood of Gilgit at 

 about 6000 feet, on the face of precipices. A few remain 

 throughout the winter ; but the greater number leave in the 

 autumn. 



7. Falco subbuteo, Linn. 



A summer visitor. It arrives about the end of April, and 

 is very common throughout the summer ; it appears to breed 

 at about 9000 feet elevation. 



8. Falco ;esalon, Tunst. 



Tolerably common, but not venturing, as a rule, far from 

 the mouths of the ravines leading up to the high mountains, 

 except in the depth of winter. The dimensions of a male 

 are — length 11 inches, wing 7'7, tail 5*2, tarsus r4; and of 

 a female the wing measures 8'85. The latter is much paler 

 than the male specimen, and appears more fully adult ; the 



