NEIGHBOURHOOD OF CHAMAN, S. AFGHANISTAN. 451 



7.— Gypaetus barbatus, Lin. 



Lammergeyers are very common, and form a conspicuous 

 feature in the landscape, as they sail to and fro quartering 

 the ground at the base of the hills and surrounding country 

 in search of food. They are still more common on the Khoja 

 Amran Kange, where they breed. The egg- is a large edition 

 of that of the preceding species, but is not so highly colored as 

 many of those of the Neophron are. 



11.— Falco juggur, J. E. Gray. 



The Juggur Falcon is extremely rare, only a single pair 

 having been noted. This was in April. 



17. — Cerchneis tinnunculus, Lin. 



The Kestrel is very common ; it breeds on the Khojak in 

 March and April. 



I did not observe it until March, but when I left in October 

 it was still abundant. I once had an opportunity of observing 

 this bird in pursuit of its prey. Its modus operandi was as 

 follows : — It hovered for a short time at a height of 35 or 40 

 feet from the ground, then made a sudden stoop and hung 

 about a yard above a bush, from which a small bird flew out 

 and took refuge in another. The Kestrel pursued, again 

 hovered and again stooped, the bird each time darting out in 

 alarm from the bush over which the Falcon poised itself. It 

 continued these tactics until the little bird was tired out and 

 allowed itself to be captured ; then seizing it in its claws it 

 flew with it to a convenient stone, and commenced to tear it to 

 pieces. I followed and shot it. The victim proved to be a 

 small Wren Warbler (Scotocerca inquieta.J 



A young bird that I have reared from the nest will catch 

 mice, and has in a short time cleared my quarters of them ; it 

 will also eat small birds, but they have to be crippled first or 

 they escape. When hungry it will not hesitate to attack a 

 tame Wood Pigeon, which is much larger than itself. It is 

 very tame, comes readily when called by name, and never 

 seems so happy as when it is perched either on my wrist or 

 the top of my head. 



24. — Accipiter nisus, Lin. 



The Sparrow Hawk is not uncommon. 



25.— Accipiter virgatus, Tem. 



The Besra Sparrow Hawk was obtained at Chaman by 

 Mr. Murray, but appeared to be uncommon. 



