Major J. Biddulpli on the Birds of Gilgit. 99 



March, and April. One was brought to me alive on l4th 

 April, with the glossy -bronze markings on the head and neck 

 very vivid. 



228. Ardea cinerea, Linn. 



Herons appear in the end of September, apparently on their 

 way to the south, and again in the end of February, when they 

 are common till the end of March, during which month they 

 collect in flocks of ten or twelve, and gradually disappear, 

 a few being seen till the beginning of May; but as they 

 are known to breed in Kashmir, it is probable that a few 

 pairs breed in Gilgit also. Most of them appear to go north- 

 wards, to breed near the lakes at the head of the Gilgit vallev, 

 which are favoui-ite breeding-places for water-fowl. 



229. Ardetta MiNUTA (Linn. ). 



After I left Gilgit, Dr. Scully secured a specimen in 

 the month of October. 



230. Nycticorax griseus (Linn.). 



One specimen brought in alive to Dr. Scully in the first 

 week in May. A young bird in the collection, shot on the 

 8th July, has the wing 10 inches. 



231. Anser indicus (Lath.). 



I have several times observed flocks of geese flying over 

 Gilgit, but have never shot any in the district. Higher up 

 the valley I saw a number and shot several specimens of 

 this bird, which is said to breed on the Shandur lake in 

 May. This was the only Goose I saw on the Pamir in April 

 1874. 



232. Casarca rutila (Pall.). 



A pair occasionally seen in autumn and spring. 



233. Spatula clypeata (Linn.). 



The first Duck of the season, seen 30th August, looked 

 like S. clypeata; and others were noticed in autumn and 

 spring. One specimen shot. 



234. Anas boscas, Linn. 



Appears about the middle of October^ and is the common 



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