Letters, Extracts , and Notes. 
713 
XXXVIII.— Letters, Extracts, and Notes. 
We have received the following letters, addressed “ To the 
Editors of * The Ibis * ” :— 
Sirs, —I have jnst returned from three months* leave 
(17th May to 8th July), during which I have visited the 
Kaghan Valley, the most northern strip of British India, ana 
I think that my experiences there as regards bird-life may 
he of some interest to your readers. 
This valley is about 100 miles long by 15 broad on the 
average, varying in altitude from 3000 feet at the entrance 
to 17,360 feet at its highest peak. In fauna and flora, as 
well as in scenery, it closely resembles Kashmir, which 
bounds it on the west. Altogether some 150 species of birds 
were met with, but as most of my time was spent at levels 
of above 10,000 feet, many others must have been found if I 
had been at lower altitudes. The following are some of the 
more interesting species :— 
JEgithaliscus niveigularis (rare). Hodgsoniusphoenicuroid* 
(rather scarce). Acrocephalus agricola (common from 8000 
feet to 10,000 feet, in patches of Sambucus ebulus, in which 
it was nesting, often a long way from water). Ruticilla 
frontalis and R. rufiventris (both fairly common, especially the 
latter). Merula maxima (nesting freely in juniper-scrub). 
Accentor rufilatus (scarce). Pycnorhamphus carneipes and 
Propasser dubius (a few pairs met with). Pyrrhospizapunicea 
(rare). Carpodacus erythrinus (abundant: some males were 
breeding in immature plumage). Anthus maculatus (common 
above 11,000 feet: Oates has not recorded it west of the River 
Sutlej). Motacilla citreoloides (abundant: about half the 
pairs were breeding in immature plumage ; it does not there¬ 
fore assume full plumage at its first spring moult). Otocorys 
longirostris (fairly numerous at the head of the valley, several 
nests were found).. Aquila chrysa'etus (the common Eagie 
above 10,000 feet). Spizaetus limnaetus (I found one sitting 
on a single dried-up egg, and shot her for identification). 
SER. ix.—VOL. hi. 3 b 
