i68 BIRDS. INHABITANTS. LOB-NOR. 



and early in spring we saw very few of either kind. 

 There was, however, a new pheasant in large num- 

 bers distinct from the Kan-su and Mongol species. 

 We also found a few wintering birds, such as the 

 Ru tic ilia eiythrogastra, Carpodaciis riidicilia, Buteo 

 aquilinus, Falco Hendei'soni, Circus Cyancus, An- 

 thiLS pratensis ? Anas bosckas, Ra litis aquatictis. 



The inhabitants of Tsaidam are the same as 

 those of Koko-nor — Mongols and Kara-Tangutans ; 

 the latter, however, only inhabiting the east of the 

 country. For administrative purposes Tsaidam is 

 included in the Koko-nor region, and is divided into 

 five banners : K^irlik, Biirtm, Tsimg, Koko-behleh, 

 and Taiji. According to the account we heard from a 

 native prince the population numbers 1,000 yurtas, i.e. 

 5,000 to 6,000 men and women, taking the average 

 of five or six to a yurta. The Mongols told us that 

 the marshes extended for fifteen days' march 

 WNW. from the point where we crossed them ; and 

 that beyond lay a tract of bare clay, after which the 

 country again became steppe-like, abounding in water 

 and pasturage known by the name of Cast. The 

 only living creatures in these regions are the kulans, 

 or wild asses ; and hunters come from Lake Lob-nor, 

 only seven days from the Gast country, in search of 

 them. We were assured by the natives that Lob-nor 

 was only a month's journey, i.e. 500 to 600 miles, 

 from that part of Tsaidam in which we were. Guides 

 may be obtained here on payment of a good sum, to 

 take one, at all events, as far as Gast, whence there is 

 no difficulty in getting to Lob-nor.^ 



' Mr. Ney Elias remarks that the approximate position of Lob-nor 



