88 DE. J. E. T. AITCHISON ON THE ZOOLOGY OF 



from tip to tip of wings extended 7 feet 4 inclies. Weight 17 lbs. ; weight of food in 

 gizzard 2 lbs. 



This magnificent bird was shot by Lieut. E,awlins near Bala-morghab on the 29th of 

 January, 1885, out of a flock of seven. 



On opening the bird the gizzard was found to contain a solid ball of vegetable matter, 

 much like cooked spinach, in a mass rather larger than a cricket-ball, weighing 2 lbs. ; 

 amongst this were neither seeds nor insects. 



The flesh was eaten next day and was excellent. 



This flock had been seen for ftilly a month in the vicinity, and one had been killed by 

 some wild animal, as we picked up the feathers in large quantities. 



The flock was seen to light upon the top of a small hill that had extremely precipitous 

 sides, which were very difficult to ascend owing to the clay being wet with half-melted 

 snow ; although there was not 100 feet to ascend, by the time Lieut. Rawlins and Capt. 

 Drummond got to the top they were both quite exhausted. As they rested just before 

 gaining the top, so as to get their wind, the birds rose, and Lieut. Eawlins succeeded in 

 shooting one, but the stench of the bird was so great that he almost thought of leaving 

 it ; it was so dark that he scarcely knew what it was that he had got, and the scent was 

 almost enough to put off any one from even a new acquisition. — J. E. T. A.] 



Order LBIICOL.E. 

 Fam. CHARADRIIDiE. 



99. ffiDICNEMUS CREPITANS. 



(Edicnemus crepitans, Temm. ; Blauford, /. c. p. 288 (1876) ; Severtz. t. c. p. 09 ; Dresser, Ibis, 1876, 

 p. 326. 



1. — . Guh-an, Badghis. lltli March, 1885. 



100. CUKSOmUS GALLICUS. 



Cur sorius gall icus (Gm.) ; Blanf. /. c. p. 281 (1876). 



1. ?. Giih-au, Badghis. 19th March, 1885. 



2. cJ ■ Karcz, Khorasan. 8th June, 1885. 



[This bird was very common on the great gravel plains, but very wary, keeping well 

 out of shot and always on the run, carefully putting every bush and tussock of grass 

 between itself and its piirsuer. — J. E. T. A.] 



^ 101. VaNELLUS CllISTATIJS. 



Vanelhis cristatvs, Meyer; Blanf. t. c. p. 280 (1876) ; Severtz. t. c. p. 69 ; Dresser, Ibis, 1876, p. 238; 

 Swinhoe, ibid. 1882, p. 120; Scully, t. c. p. 87. 



1. cJ . Between Zind-i-jan and Roznak. 16th November, 1884. 



3. ? . Bala-morghab, Badghis. ]6th January, 1885. 



[Common over the whole Badghis. — J. E. T. A.] 



