THE BIRDS OF KOHAT AND THE KURRAM VALLEY. 195 



Fulton, J. B. N. H. S. xvi. p. 49 (Chitral : summer visitor, nesting com- 

 monly from 7,000 to 9,000 ft.) : Rattray, t. c. p. 426 (Nests freely in Murree 

 Hills) ; Ward, op. cit. xvii. p. 479 (breeds in Kashmir). 



A common winter visitor to the District from the end of September to> 

 April. Nests freely on the Safed Koh between 6,000 and 8,000 feet. Captain 

 Keen observed a few on the Samana all through the summer, and believes 

 that they nested there. An example collected by Major Magrath in Bannu 

 and now in the National Collection, is typical. 



[500.] Pericrocotus peeegrinus. The small Minivet. 



Ward, J. B. N. H. S. xvii. p. 479. 



Very rare. I came across a pair in some camel-thorn scrub {Acacia modesta) 

 three miles west of Makhud on the Indus, but unfortunately failed to secure 

 one. It is a bird I know well, however, having frequently met with it near 

 Rawal Pindi (100 miles east). 



[518.] Oriolus kdndoo. The Indian Oriole. 



Rattray, J. B. N. H. S. xii. p. 330 (common on migration) ; Marshall, op. cit 

 xiv. p. 602 (a summer visitor to Quetta) ; Watson, op. cit. xv. p. 145 (Quetta : 

 common in gardens, mostly immature) , Fulton, op. cit. xvi. p. 49 (very com- 

 mon in summer in Chitral up to 8,000 ft.) ; Rattray, t. c. p. 426 (common near 

 Murree at 5,500 ft.) ; Ward, op. cit. xvii. p. 479 (breeds in Kashmir up to 



6,000 ft.). 



' J 



A large number pass through Kohat in April and the beginning of May 

 returning in August and September : many breed in the orchards of the Kurram 

 Valley ; a few also in Kohat. 



[528.] Pastor roseus. The Rosy Pastor. 



Rattray, J. B. N. H. S. xii. p. 338 (Thall: passing through in vast numbers) ;. 

 Marshall, op. cit. xiv. p. 602 (common at Chaman at the end of April). 



Major Magrath has written the following note on this species in Kohat: 



Passes through this district in vast flocks during the spring and autumn 

 migrations. At the spring passage the birds are slaughtered in hundreds by 

 the natives, every man possessing a firearm turning out for the sport. Thev 

 arrive about the middle of April and the rush continues till the middle of May. 

 The mulberries, which are ripe at this season, are eagerly devoured by them, 

 and the ripe corn also suffers from their depredations. A few young birds 

 remain in the district throughout the hot weather. The return passage begins 

 about the end of July, being at its height by the middle of August, and lasting 

 ! into September. Very few adult birds are to be seen at this time. The 

 direction of the flight through the district is N.-W. and S.-E. for spring and 

 autumn migrations respectively. The vast flocks which roost in and about the 

 cantonments become an unmitigated nuisance while they are with us." Since 

 writing the above, Major Magrath has noted the appearance of small flocks of 

 adult birds in the middle of summer, as also have Captain Keen and I; in fact, 

 between us we have noted them at short intervals throughout the summer, 

 and it seems probable that some of them at least breed a good deal 



