THE BIRDS OF KOHAT AND THE KURRAM VALLEY. 963 



[1230.] Milvus melanotis. The Large Indian Kite. 



Rattray, J. B. N. H. S. xii. p. 344 (Thall: rare ; shot a female off a nest) ; 

 Fulton, op. cit. xvi. p. 59 (Chitral: April); Rattray, t. c. p. 663 (rare at 

 Murree) ; Ward, op. cit. xvii. p. 729 (common in Kashmir). 



Not common, more numerous on the Samana and in the Kurram Valley 

 than elsewhere. 



[1232.] Elanus ceruleus. The Black-winged Kite. 



Fulton, J. B. N. H. S. xvi. p. 59 (common in Chitral in summer). 



Fairly common in Kohat from early in April till October. In a mild year 

 a few stragglers stay the winter. I met with it as high as Dandar (4,700 ft.) 

 in the Kurram Valley. 



[1223.] Circus macrurus. The Pale Harrier. 



Marshall, J. B. N. H. S. xv. p. 352 (Quetta: common in spring) ; Fulton,, 

 op. cit. xvi. p. 59 (Chitral: April). 



739. 6 ad. Kohat, 1,760 ft., 25th March. 



This is the common Harrier of the District. Chiefly seen on migration 

 from September till the end of November, and from February till May, only 

 a few remaining for the winter. 



[1234.] Circus cineraceus. Montagu's Harrier. 



Ward, J. B. N. H. S. xvii. p. 729 (winter visitor to Kashmir). 



Rare. We both observed this species on the Samana during the spring- 

 migration. I also saw one near Lachi in March. 



[1235.] Circus cyaneus. The Hen-Harrier. 



Marshall, J. B. N. H. S. xv. p. 352 (occurs at Quetta in spring) ; Ward, 

 op. cit. xvii. p. 729 (common in winter). 



Fairly common on passage in spring and autumn. 



[1237.] Circus jsruginosus. The Marsh-Harrier. 



Marshall, J. B. N. H. S. xv. p. 352 (fairly common in winter) ; Ward, op. 

 cit. xvii. p. 729 (very plentiful ; possibly breeds in Kashmir). 



Common about reed-beds and irrigated crops from September till the 

 middle of May, especially in spring and autumn. Dresser, in his ' Manual 

 of Palsearctic Birds' (p. 504), writing of this species, says : " It is doubtful 

 if it dares even to attack a rat." I once disturbed a bird feasting on a 

 freshly-killed adult Nesokia hardwichii (a particularly fierce species of field- 

 rat), which I think must have been killed by the bird. I believe that a 

 pair nested on the grass-farm at Kohat in the summer of 1906. They were 

 there up to the 14th of June, when I left for the Kurram Valley. On my 

 return in August I found an immature bird in the same spot. 



[1239.] Buteo perox. The Long-legged Buzzard. 



Marshall, J. B. N. H. S. xv. p. 352 (common round Quetta in winter, 

 chiefly the dark form ; probably breeds close by). 



A winter visitor and very common from October till April. I have shot 

 both the light and the dark forms, but the former is much the commoner. 



