THE BIRDS OF KOHAT AND THE KURRAM VALLEY. 193 



A common resident among scrub on dry stony hill-sides, but not seen above 

 3,500 feet, nor far from the foot of the hills. The specific name is very 

 appropriate : it is never still, but is always flitting or running mouse-like about 

 from bush to bush, only pausing occasionally to sing a few notes of its 

 cheery little song. 

 [456.] Cettia ORiENTALis. The Eastern Bush-Warbler. 

 167. $ ad. Lachi, 1,540 ft., 27th March. 



701. $ ad. Kohat, 1,760 ft., 17th March. 



732. $ ad. „ „ 23rd March. 



734. $ ad. Chillibagh, 2,100 ft., 24th March. 



Bill dark brown, lower mandible flesh-coloured, gape yellowish ; tarsus 

 flesh-coloured ; iris brown. 



Passes through Kohat in fair numbers in March, frequenting reed-beds, 

 gardens, and generally thick cover near water. A great skulker, usually 

 occurring singly. My attention was first drawn to this species by a loud note, 

 resembling the syllable '• chey," proceeding from the midst of a tamarisk. 

 After much peering, I made out a small brown bird vigorously flirting its tail 

 and evidently much resenting my presence. It was in this way that I always 

 met with it. 



[458.] Suya crinigeea. The Brown Hill- Warbler. 



Rattray, J. B. N. H. S. xvi. p. 426 (nests freely in Murree Hills) ; Ward, 

 op. cit. xvii. p. 113 (common in Kashmir). 



6~3. 9 ad. Marai, 4,000 ft., 9th March. 



677. $ ad. Thall, 2,500 ft., -4th March. 



A resident on the Samana and fairly common. In winter it descends to the 

 Miranzai Valley, occurring commonly in the scrub jungle near the foot of the 

 hills, also in the low hills of S. Kohat. 



We did not meet with it in the Kurram Valley, though I shot one at the 

 entrance near Thall. 



[462] Prinia lepida. The Streaked Wren-Warbler. 



Cumming, J. B. N. H. S. xvi. p. 687 (fairly common amongst the Tamarisks : 

 Seistan, 1,700 ft.) ; Ward, op. cit. xvii. p. 114 (occurs in outer hills, but not in 

 Kashmir proper). 



617. $ (testes very big). Lachi, 1,540 ft., 26th February. 



697. $ ad. Lachi, 1,5 40 ft., 17th March. 



698. £ad. „ 



A resident in the plains, and not uncommon about reed-beds and tamarisk- 

 scrub, being particularly abundant in the Lachi Plain. Nesting operations are 

 begun in March, and from then till May its curious reeling song is constantly 

 to be heard. 



[463.] Prinia flaviventris. 



Major Magrath ha3 found this species common in the reed-beds of Bannu, 

 the adjoining District on the south, and has forwarded examples to the British 

 Museum. 

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