Birds of the Zarafschan Basin. 
467 
115. Athene bactriana. 
Athene bactriana Sharpe, Cat. B. ii. p. 137. 
C. Samarkand. 23, 24 Oct., 1907. Nos. 108, 116. 
<?. „ 19 Dec., 1907. No. 245. 
cf. „ 14 April, 1908. No. 338. 
This is a common bird on the barren foot-hills, but I 
only observed it from 1000 to 3000 ft. All my specimens 
have the legs and toes densely feathered to the base of the 
claws. 
116. Scops brucii. 
Scops brucii Sharpe, Cat. B. ii. p. 62. 
Samarkand. 8 Sept., 1907. No. 10. 
A rare resident in the cultivated region, wherever there 
are groves of trees. 
Severtsoff does not mention this very well-defined sub¬ 
species of Scops gin . 
117. Circus cyaneus. 
Circus cyaneus Sharpe, Cat. B. i. p. 52. 
<£. Bokhara. 14 Nov., 1907. No. 172. 
? „ 19 March, 1908. No. 304. 
118. Buteq ferox. 
Buteo ferox Sharpe, Cat. B. i. p. 176. 
<£. Samarkand. 15 Oct., 1907. No. 80. 
The autumnal migration of Birds-of-Prey is very noticeable 
in the Zarafschan Valley. In October large numbers pass 
over, going southwards. 
119. Astur RADIUS. 
Astur badius Sharpe, Cat. B. i. p. 109. 
C. Samarkand. 9 Sept., 1907. No. 17. 
d imm. Samarkand. 1 May, 1908. No. 398. 
$ . Bokhara. 20 May, 1908. No. 493. 
This is the commonest Sparrow-Hawk of the country, 
being found wherever the cultivation includes groves of trees 
and thickets. It breeds in May as low as 600 ft. The 
natives train Sparrow-Hawks, chiefly in order to fly at 
Quails. But I cannot decide whether it is this species 
2 h 2 
