THE BIRDS OF KOHAT AND THE KURRAM VALLEY. 777 



Rattray, J. B. N. H. S. xvi. p. 427 (common in Murree Hills) ; Ward, op. 

 cit. xvii. p. 480 (plentiful). 



528. S ad. Kurram Valley, 7,500 ft., 24th April. 



A rare bird. I shot one near Kohat on the 13th of April, and this was 

 the only example seen in the plains. A second I got near the Peiwar Kotal, 

 and believe that I heard one or two more close by. 



[Culicicapa ceylonensis (Sw.). Major Magrath shot an example of this 

 species, which is now in the National Collection, in Bannu, in October, and 

 has since found it a fairly common winter visitor.] 



[589.] Alseonax ruficattdus. The Rufous-tailed Flycatcher. 



Fulton, J. B. N. H. S. xvi. p. 50 (shot two in April) ; Ward, op. cit. xvii. 

 p. 480 (breeds at high altitudes in Kashmir). 



Abundant in summer on the Peiwar Spur, and in the Spin Khwar Nullah 

 of the Safed Koh, from 8,000 to 11,000 feet. As Major Magrath has pointed 

 out, it is quite likely that this species occurs in Kohat in winter, but from 

 its remarkable likeness to the female Ruticilla rufiventris, has been over- 

 looked. It may be distinguished from the latter by its not shaking its tail. 

 It is a good songster with a great variety of notes. 



[598.] Terpsiphone paradisi. The Indian Paradise Flycatcher. 



Marshall, J. B. N. H. S. xiv. p. 606 (shot one in May near Quetta) ; 

 Fulton, op. cit. xvi. p. 50 (an uncommon summer visitor up to 5,000 ft.) ; 

 Ward, op. cit. xvii. p. 480 (common in summer). 



A fairly common summer visitor, arriving early in April, leaving towards 

 the end of September, nesting freely in the shady orchards of Kohat. 



[608.] Pratincola caprata. The Pied Bush-Chat. 



Rattray, J. B. N. H. S. xii. p. 339 (Thall: scarce) ; Marshall, op. cit. xiv. 

 p. 603 (Quetta : common in summer) ; Fulton, op. cit. xvi. pp. 50 & 744 (resi- 

 dent in Chitral) ; Cumming, t. c. p. 687 (Seistan : a scarce summer visitor) ; 

 Betham, t. c. p. 750 (common) ; Ward, op. cit. xvii. p. 480 (rare in Kashmir). 



A fairly common summer visitor from the second week in March till 

 October, but not found much above 3,000 feet in the Kurram Valley. 



[610.] Pratincola maura. The Indian Bush-Chat. 



Rattray, J. B. N. H. S. xii. p. 339 (abundant at Thall in April) ; Marshall, 

 op. cit. xiv. p. 603 (a few at Quetta in April) ; Fulton, op. cit. xvi. pp. 50 & 

 744 (shot one at 6,000 ft.) ; Rattray, t. c. p. 467 (common in Murree) ; Ward, 

 op. cit. xvii. p. 480 (common up to 7,000 ft.). 



722. S ad. Kohat, 1,768 ft., 21st March. 



Passes through Kohat in force from February till mid-May, returning in 

 small numbers in August and September ; a few stragglers remain for the 

 winter. Nests freely on the Samana and in the Kurram Valley from 5,000 

 to 7,000 feet. I have shot a recently fledged young bird as high as 9,000 feet. 



[618.] Saxicola picaxa. The Pied-Chat. 



Marshall, J. B. N. H. S. xiv. p. 480 (Quetta: common summer visitor); 



