108 Capt. A. H. McMalion — Fauna of the Gilgit District. [No. 2, 



dians) which exist in Gilgit itself and the Indus Valley. I obtained 

 many specimens and heard of others. These are all of the black variety. 

 I have never heard however of any one ever having been bitten by 

 cobras in the Gilgit District. 



From what I could hear the EcMs carinata is common in the Indus 

 Valley in the neighbourhood of Chilas, but I never obtained a specimen. 



The following lizards abound in the lower portion of the Astor and 

 in the Indus Valleys, but are only to be seen in the summer months. 

 (1) Agama tuberculata — noticeable for its deep jet black colouring on 

 the head and back. (2) Agama Mmalayana. This in life has a pretty 

 pale pink colouring over the throat. 



The little Mahuia is very common in the upper Astor and other 

 neighbouring valleys. I noticed no other lizards in the district. 



Birds. 



The winter visitors are very n^imerous, and as mentioned before the 

 majority merely pass through the country on their way to and from 

 India; others remain throughout the winter. I have naturally been 

 unable to make anything that would in the least approach to being an 

 exhaustive list of the birds to be found in the district. I will content 

 myself with giving, with a few remarks when necessary, a list of those 

 birds only of which I have brought specimens for the Indian Museum. 



Gypaetus harhatus. Very common in the winter. 



Gyps himalayensis. 



Eieraetus fasciatus. Differs slightly from type by having 3rd quill 

 slightly the longest. 



Buteo ferox. 



Circus aeruginosus. 



Buteo desertorum. This has been seen to catch uninjured mallard ; 

 one also seized and carried off a woodcock which had been shot. 



Circus cyaneus. 



Falco harharus. I only obtained two specimens, and I do not think 

 they are common in the Gilgit district. One of the above was shot 

 after seizing a pigeon and biting off its head in mid air. 



Accipiter nisus. 



Falco sulhuteo. One specimen was caught by the hand sitting in 

 a bush. 



Tinnunculus alaudarius. Very common. 



Gecinus squamatus. Very numerous. On one occasion when out 

 hare shooting through low scrub, I put up large numbers. They seem 

 to feed in the patches of highish grass growing at the foot of small 

 trees, and their habits in this particular seem greatly to resemble the 

 woodcock's. 



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