THE BIRDS 01 KOHAT AND THE KURRAM VALLEY. 959 



The following details are also from Major Magrath's notes : — "A resident, 

 though scarce. There are probably not more than eight or a dozen in the 

 District, all of which frequent cantonments. I know of only two trees where 

 they nest, one a large cotton-tree (Simal) and the other a Cirrus. A tame 

 example which I kept in a state of semi-freedom used often to mix with the 

 wild birds, but the females, to whom he made advances, he invariably found, 

 to his cost, appropriated." 



[1141.] Pal^ornis schisticeps. The Slaty-headed Parroquet. 



Fulton, J. B. N. H. S. xvi. p. 58 (Chitral : summer visitor, occurring up to 

 7,000 ft.) : Rattray, t. c. p. 661 (very common in the Murree Hills) ; Ward, 

 op. cit. xvii. p. 727 (common in summer and aiitumn up to 7,500 ft.). 



Flocks of this Parroquet visit the District during April (noted on various 

 dates from the 8th to the 26th) and stay a few days. I came across a 

 small nesting-colony on the 19th of June near Zeran, 5,800 feet (Kurram 

 Valley) ; the young birds had just flown. 



[1157.] Asio accipitbjntjs. The Short-eared Owl. 



Ward, J. B. N. H. S. xvii. p. 727 (occurs in the plains). 



456. S ad. Samana, 6,500 ft., 5th March. 



Migrates through Kohat in March, but apparently only in small numbers. 



[1159.] Syknium biddulphi. Scully's Wood-Owl. 



Fulton, J. B. N. H. S. xvi. p. 58 (Chitral : not common, occurs up to 

 8,000 ft.) ; Ward, op. cit. xvii. p. 727 (fairly common in Kashmir ; eggs 

 taken in April and May). 



90. 6 ■ Kohat, 1,760 ft., 19th January. 



637. S • Hangu, 2,700 ft., 3rd March. 



Fairly common from November till April in the orchards and wild olive- 

 groves of the Kohat and Miranzai Valleys. 



This species spends the day in evergreen trees, but without troubling 

 much about concealment, being often mobbed by Crows, Mynas, Bulbuls, 

 &c. An individual so mobbed was rescued and taken to Major Magrath, 

 who kept it till dusk and then let it go. He says that it allowed him to 

 handle it and scratch its head, and it appeared to be of a gentle disposition. 

 He adds that the bird is a not uncommon winter visitor to Bannu. 



[1164.] Kettjpa zeylonensis. The Brown Fish-Owl. 



668. 6 ad. Kachai, 2,700 ft., 11th March. 



Probably not rare, as the streams of the District are full of small fishes 

 and crabs. The stomach of the above-mentioned example was crammed 

 with fragments of crabs' shells and claws, with a few fish-bone. 



Besides this example I shot one of a pair at Kohat in November. 



[1168.] Bubo bengalensis. The Pock-Horned Owl. 



Rattray, J. B. N. H. S. xii. p. 343 (rare : Thall) ; Cumming, op. cit. xvi. 

 p. 690 (Seistan : one young bird brought in) ; Ward, op. cit. xvii. p. 727 

 (common in Kashmir). 



