THE BIRDS OF LAHORE AND THE VICINITY. 573 



call of this bird in the breeding season is a prolonged continuous 

 grasshopper-like note sustained for a couple of minutes at a time, 

 while the bird sits with elevated crested and head moving from side 

 to side as if scanning the neighbourhood for its mate. 



1254. The Peregrine Falcon — Falco peregrinus, 



A fairly common cold weather visitor to the neighbourhood of 

 Lahore, arriving in October and leaving early in April. I have often 

 observed it while out hawking, when it has been attracted either by 

 the lure or by the sight of my trained peregrines. 



1255. The Shahin Falcon — Falco per egrinator. 



I have frequently seen this bird at Lahore and in the neigh- 

 bourhood during the cold weather. I have during several years 

 noticed an old bird hunting the Lawrence Gardens for several 

 weeks in March, much to the alarm of the i^arrots. 



1257. The Luggar Falcon — Falco jugger . 



A fairly common resident at Lahore, where it breeds commonly 

 in February and March, though I once found young as late as 

 June. 



1258. The Cherrug Falcon — Falco cherrug. 



Out hawking once in the cold weather near Lahore, my hawker 

 pointed out to me a wild bird of this species, which I was unable to 

 identify myself as I have never kept and trained this species. 



1264. The Red-headed Merlin — Aisalon chicquera. 



A common resident at Lahore, where I have only found in eggs in 

 March. A nest of unusually coloured eggs 1 found contained two eggs 

 which had a whitish ground colour and for markings only some 

 large underlying spots of violet round the larger end (I write from 

 memory). 



1265. The Kestrel — Tinnuneulus alaudarius. 



This is I think the bird which is to be seen occasionally round Lahore 

 in the cold weather from September onwards. I admit a slight doubt 

 in the matter as 1 have not shot the bird and so it might just possibly 

 prove to be T. cenchris (The Lesser Kestrel). 

 1272. The Southern Green Pigeon- —Crocopus chlorogaster. 



This is the Green Pigeon found at Lahore, which breeds in the rains 

 and keeps in large flocks at other times. A friend of mine tells me that 

 he found the nest in April, but this does not coincide with my expe- 

 rience as the only nest I have so far found was discovered on the 1st 

 July and 1 have found the birds still in flocks at the end of May and 

 not in pairs till the end of .Tune. 

 1292. The Indian Blue Rock-Pigeon — Columba intermedia. 



Resident in large numbers in the city of Lahore. It goes out every 

 morning early in large flocks to feed in the fields. These flocks follow 

 recognised ' lines ' or routes and very good shooting can be had in the 

 autumn by taking one's stand on one of these routes and waiting for 

 the returning birds, most of which time to get home before the sun is 

 well up. The European species, C livia, is very probably also found at 

 Lahore, but I have not taken the trouble to verify the fact. 

 1295. The Eastern Stock-Pigeon — Columha eversmanni . 



This is a cold weather visitor to the neighbourhood of Lahore and I 

 have shot individuals out of large flocks at Atari in November and 

 seen the species at other times during the cold weather. 

 1307. The Spotted Dove — Turtur suratensis. 



So far as I can ascertain this bird is only a migrant to Lahore, pass- 

 ing through in July, August and September, and again in April, and 

 not being met with at other times. 



