THE BIRDS OF KOIIAT AND THE KURRAM VALLEY. 187 



male may often be seen perched on the top of a bush, pouring forth its sweet 

 song. In many of its habits it resembles the Indian Robin (Thamnobia cam- 

 hay ensis), especially in the way it flirts and spreads its tail, and also in its tame 

 •and conBding habits. If the intruder happens to approach the nest, the pair 

 will follow him about uttering their alarm-cry— wutch, wutch. If the nest be 

 found they get terribly excited, and will sometimes remain hovering in the air 

 within a few feet. Of five nests found, three were placed in thorn-bushes 

 close to the ground, the other two on the ground under low shrubs. They 

 were cup-shaped and loosely constructed of coarse grass and roots. I looked 

 in vain for the bit of serpent-skin which Mr. Dresser, in the ' Manual of 

 Palsearctic Birds,' states is always found in the nest of this species. 



The specific title (familiaris) is very appropriate, but the trivial name (Grey- 

 backed) seems to be only misleading, for the back is fulvous-brown, the most 

 ■noticeable feature being the bright red, white-tipped tad which the bird is so 

 fond of displaying. 



[362.] Locustella. straminea. The Turkestan Grasshopper-Warbler. 



742. 9 ad. Kohat, 1,760 ft., 25th March. 



749. Sex ? „ „ 26th March. 



776. $ ad. „ „ 2nd April. 



Passes through the District in fair numbers from the third week in March 

 till the middle of May. Not observed in autumn. It is chiefly found on the 

 •grass-farms and in young crops, occasionally in gardens. It is not such a 

 skulker as one would expect ; there is no difficulty in flushing it, but it is not 

 easy to observe or to shoot, except on the wing. 



[363.] Acrocephalus stentoreus. The Indian Great Reed- Warbler. 



Ward, J. B. N. H. S. xvii. p. 112 (breeds in Kashmir in June). 



Common on migration from the end of March till well into June, and again 

 in August and September ; possibly a few stay to nest in Kohat. 



I found a small colony nesting in a reed-bed near Dandar, (4,700 ft.), in 

 the Kurram Valley, on the 9th of July. 



[366.] Acrocephalus dumetordm. Blyth's Reed-Warbler. 



Ward, J. B. N. H. S. xvii. p. 112 (summer visitor to the Valley of Kashmir). 



203. J ad. Kohat, 1,760 ft., 13th April. 



231. $ ad. „ „ 29th A.pril. 



247. $ ad. „ „ 6th May. 



360. Juv. „ „ 30th August. 



Like the last species, this Warbler passes through in great force in April. 

 May, and early June, returning in August and September. Not often found 

 in reed-beds, preferring shady gardens and orchards. The sweet rambling 

 song may often be heard issuing from the midst of a thick mulberry-tree. 

 Probably breeds in the Upper Kurram Valley. 



The upper plumage of this species is distinctly tinged with olivaceous. 

 .Mr. Oates does not mention this in the ' Fauna of British India. ' 



[307.] Acrocephalus agricola. The Paddyfield Reed-Warbler. 



