THE BIRDS OF CHLGIT. 363 



222.— Porzana maruetta, Leach. (909). 



Though I have procured specimens of three kinds of Rails, 

 strange to say, 1 have never seen one about, nor has a man 

 who has been employed in shootiug birds daily for nearly 

 two years ever procured one. All the specimens I have 

 Been have been brought in alive by natives. I imagine that 

 a few of each species breed here every year. They are cer- 

 tainly only summer visitors. 



Two of this kind were brought to me, a male and a female — 

 one in the middle of April, the other at the beginning of 

 July. 



223.— Porzana pygmaea, Naum. (910). 



One specimen, a male, was brought to me alive on 20th 

 May, when it was evidently breeding-. 



? 224.— Porzana parva, Scop. (910 bis). 



Since my leaving Gilgit, Dr. Scully writes that he has 

 secured an immature specimen which he believes to belon^ 

 to this species. Wing, 4 inches. 



225.— Crex pratensis, Bechst. (910 quat). 



Since my leaving Gilgit, Dr. Scully writes that he secured 

 a specimen during the autumn migration. 



226.— Rallus aquaticus, Lin. (914 bis). 



A single specimen which I refer to this species was 

 brought to Dr. Scully alive, by a native, on the 25th April. 

 Length, 10-9 inches; expanse, 15*25; wing, 4*65; tail, 23; 

 tarsus, 1-6 ; middle toe, 1'75 ; tibia (bare), 0*5 ; bill from front, 

 1*54 ; gape, 1-7 ; depth, 0*35. 



227.— Ciconia nigra, Lin. (918). 



Flocks of Black Storks appeared at intervals in February, 

 March, and April. One was brought to me alive on 14th 

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

 very vivid. 



228.— Ardea cinerea, Lin. (923). 



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 



