THE BIRDS OF KOHAT AND THE KURRAM VALLEY. 965 



[1255.] Faloo peregrinator. The Shahin. 



Rattray, J. B. N. H. S. xii. p. 344 (Thall: common along the foot of the 

 hills) ; Ward, op. cit. xvii. p. 729 (occasionally caught near Srinagar). 



A resident, and after the Laggar the commonest of our larger Falcons. 

 Mr. Donald generally keeps a pair for hawking Chukor, Partridges, Teal, 

 Arc. He speaks highly of their courage, and has known one strike and kill 

 a Mallard, but says that, though comparatively easy to train, after a year 

 or two in captivity they deteriorate rapidly. There are many eyries scat- 

 tered through the District. In June and July Mr. Donald has often seen 

 them taking bats ; these he thinks must be young birds practising. 



Eggs were being incubated on 16th March. Alarm note, Tcrdp krap. 



[1257.] Falco jugger. The Laggar Falcon. 



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

 cit. xvii. p. 729. 



Resident and common in open, cultivated country. Mr. Donald say a 

 that this species is the most frequent lure for taking other and more valu- 

 able Falcons. It is usually trained to take hares, but is not thought very 

 much of, being too slow. The bazaar price is Re. 1. 



[1258.] Falco cherrug. The Cherrug or Saker. 



The Cherrug occurs in open country like the last species, but is not 

 nearly so common, and is a winter visitor only, arriving about October and 

 leaving in April. Mr. Donald kept two birds which he trained very success- 

 fully to take Milvus govinda as well as Houbara-Bustards and Hares. 

 After the Goshawk and Peregrine, this is the favourite amongst local fal- 

 coners. The price ranges from Rs. 7 to Rs. 14 for a good female. 



[1260.] Falco subbuteo. The Hobby. 



Fulton, J. B. N. H. S. xvi. p. 60 (Chitral: one specimen obtained in May); 

 Rattray, t. c. p. 663 (rare in the Murree Hills; breeds); Ward, op. cit. xvii 

 p. 729 (breeds in the higher hills of Kashmir). 



Mr. Donald states that this species is fairly common in spring and that 

 he has observed it as late as May. I came across three individuals in 

 beautiful adult plumage in February near Lachi ; they were flying back- 

 wards and forwards, sparring at each other, and occasionally perching in a 

 tree close by, while constantly uttering a cry which sounded like " gyak- 

 gyak." 



[1263.] JEsalon regulus. The Merlin. 



Ward, J. B. N. H. S. xvii. p. 729 (widely distributed in winter). 



This bird is fairly common from October till the middle of March ; it is 

 more often seen about the grass-farm and the Sarma and Lachi plains than 

 elsewhere. It migrates over the Samana in March. It is seldom trained 

 in this district. 



[1264.] JEsalon ohicqueua. The Red-headed Merlin or Turumti. 



An occasional visitor, but by no means common. I have only twice seen 

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