A CONTRIBUTION TO THE ORNITHOLOGY OF CASHMERE. 1003 
main stronghold being the open ground about the base of the Takht and the 
hills behind it. Numbers might also be seen over the reed beds of the Dhal lake. 
It is strange that I saw no Bee-eaters about the road on the return journey of May 
12th. 
The Hoopoe — Upwpa epops epops, L. 
On April 2nd we formd the Hoopoe common as soon as we entered the plains 
at BaramuUah and it was most abundant at Srinagar throughout my stay. About 
the end of April the birds were evidently preparing to nest in trees and in the walls 
of Kashmiri houses but I did not examine any nests. 
The Cuckoo — Cuculus canorus, L. 
The Cuckoo was heard calling once on each of the following dates, April 21st, 
April 26th and May 1st. 
The Common Swift — Cypselus apus, L. 
Observed as follows : — one over the summit of the Pendreathan hill on April 
29th ; several over the Dhal lake on May 6th ; on the journey of May 12th one 
near BaramuUah, two near Chakoti, and one at Domel. 
The Slaty-headed Parrakeet — Palceornis schisticeps, Hodgs. 
One was seen in a Chenar tree at Srinagar on April 13th. On the domiward 
journey of May 12th several were seen in the hiUs below BaramuUah, and a big 
flock was flying about the road at Domel. 
The Himalayan Wood Owl — Strix aluco nivicola (Blyth). 
I attribute to tliis species, which I have not previoush’ met, a fine Owl seen 
sitting in a wiUow tree on the bund on April 10th and 11th. The remains of 
an owl which had been kiUed and eaten in some fir trees on a hillside was appa- 
rently of the same species. 
The Lammergaier — GypaHus harbatus grandis, Storr. 
Compared with the abundance of this grand bird about many of the hill stations 
the Lammergaier seemed very scarce in Cashmere. One was seen on both jour- 
neys, on April 2nd and May 12th in the hiUs between Ghari and Uri. At Srinagar 
I saw only a single example, on April 27th and AprU 29th, over the hill behind 
the P. W. D. stone quarry. 
The Himalayan Griffon Vulture — Gyps Jtdvus himalayensis, Hume. 
Observed in small numbers at Srinagar and about the road on both journeys. 
The Eg^qitian Vulture — Neophron percnopterus percnopterus (L.). 
Seen at Gahri on April 1st. At Srinagar one or two pairs were to be met about 
the neighbourhood of the Talrht and the range of hiUs behind it, but the species 
was not common. On April 20th a nest containing eggs could be seen on a ledge 
of rock in a very narrow and precipitous gully at about 8,000 feet, but the site 
was quite inaccessible without the use of ropes. 
Pallas’s Fishing Eagle — Haliaetus leucoryphus Pali. 
A pair or possibly more were frequenting the neighbourhood of the Jhelum 
river just above Srinagar and were seen on various dates from April 21st until 
my departure. 
The Booted Eagle — Hieraetus pennatus Gmel. 
A small species of Raptor which I doubtfully identify with this species was 
occasionally met with during the latter half of April, always in the neighbour- 
hood of the river. 
The Shahin Falcon — Falco peregrinus peregrinator, Sundev, 
On April 16th a Wagtail that I had wounded on the camping ground near the 
rifle ranges was nearly taken by a Falcon which appeared by its flight and size to 
be a female Shahin. 
