THE BIRDS OF GILGIT. 359 



the rest of the plumage pale earthy brown, each feather with a 

 pale buffy-white tip, largest on the abdomen, where the 

 brown is almost lost ; upper plumage rather darker, barred 

 with pale buff, the bars edged with narrow interrupted 

 blackish lines ; primaries hair brown, with large irregular 

 buff spots on the outer margin. 



195.— Coturnix communis, Bonn. (829). 



Seen at intervals all through the year. In April becomes 

 common, and breeds in May. Eleven eggs ready to hatch 

 were brought to me on 26th June. 



196.— Otis tetrax, Lin. (836 ter). 



A male in winter plumage was shot on 27th March on a 

 stony plain overgrown in places with coarse grass, about six 

 miles from Gilgit. It weighed 21£ ounces. Another was 

 seen at the same time. The natives say that a pair or two 

 are to be found in the same place every summer ; so they 

 probably breed there ; but I doubt if the bird is to be found 

 anywhere else in the district, as the ground is hardly suitable 

 to it. 



197.— Charadrius fulvus, Gm. (845). 



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

 the autumn migration. 



198.— .ffigialitis cantiana, Lath. (848). 



A single specimen, a female, procured at Gilgit on the 

 20 th September. 



199.— iEgialitis philippensis, Scop. (849). 



Tolerably common in April and May, in full breeding 

 plumage. 



200.— iEgialitis hiaticula, LH. (849 bis). 



Dr. Scully writes that after my leaving Gilgit he secured 

 a specimen of this species. 



201.— Vanellus vulgaris, Bechst. (851). 



A few are to be seen at all times scattered about during 

 the winter. In March they collect into flocks of twenty or 

 thirty, and disappear about the 25th. 



Jerdon mentions that the only distinction between the 

 sexes is in the size of the crest; but the few specimens 

 collected seem to show that the females never have the lores, 

 chin, and throat black like the male. The colours of the 

 male also are much more intense. 



