THE BIRDS OF KOHAT AND THE KURRAM VALLEY. 789 



791. (5 ad. Kohat, 1760 ft., 16th March. 

 755. <3 ad. „ „ 27th „ 



Major Magrath writes of this species in Kohat as follows : — " The usual 

 pest and only too common. In April and early in May vast flocks of a 

 migratory race of this species pass through the District in company with 

 the next and the flocks of Pastor roseus already mentioned. Numbers of 

 them are slaughtered along with the two latter. Does not winter on the 

 Samana." 



The above two examples belong to a melanistic variety not uncommon 

 round Kohat. 



[778.] Passer hispaniolensis. The Spanish Sparrow. 

 Watson, J. B. N. H. S. xv. p. 145 (large flocks from October till Decem- 

 ber: Chaman) ; Fulton, op. cit. xvi. p. 54 (passes through Chitral in April 

 and October) ; Ward, op. cit. xvii. p. 485 (met with in July). 

 676. <$ ad. Thall, 2,550 ft., 14th March. 



I will again quote from Major Magrath's excellent notes : — " Mixed up 

 with flocks of the last species, numbers of the present occur on the spring 

 migration. At the height of the migration vast flocks of Sparrows in com- 

 pany with flocks of Pastor roseus pour into the station at sundown to roost. 

 The combined noise of these birds before they have settled down to sleep 

 is indescribable, and the smell of them becomes quite appeciable and rather 

 offensive. Gardens, hedges, and trees are disgustingly soiled by the rain of 

 their excreta. Shooting the birds is encouraged in Cantonments at this time, 

 and every sepoy who can procure a gun slaughters to his heart's content. 

 But notwithstanding these drastic measures little mitigation of the nuisance 

 is effected." 



The spring migration sets in about the second week in March and 

 continues till the middle of May, the return passage commencing early in 

 August and continuing till October, but comparatively few are seen in 

 autumn. A few stay the winter, being fairly common then in the reed-beds 

 and scrub round Lachi. None appear to breed in the Kurram Valley, but 

 a large number pass through. 



An example picked up by Major Magrath near Peiwar (6,500 feet) had, 

 evidently been strangled by getting its head inextricably fixed between 

 the primaries when preening itself. 



[779.] Passer monxanus. The Tree-Sparrow. 



Rattray, J. B. N. H. S. xii. p. 340 (nests freely: Upper Kurram); 

 Marshall, op. cit. xiv. p. 604 (a very common resident : Quetta) ; Fulton, op. 

 cit. xvi., p. 54 (a common resident: Chitral); Cumming, t. c. p. 688 

 (abundant in April: Seistan) ; Ward, op. cit. xvii., p. 485. 

 714. S ad. Kohat, 1,850 ft., 20th March. 



Common in winter in the Miranzai Valley, a few individuals occurring as 

 low as Kohat and Banda. Mr. Donald found a nest with young in Doab:; 

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