OF EASTERN TURKESTAN. 77 
To complete the list of birds in my room, I have also one 
specimen of the Little Bustard (Otis te¢rax)—probably only 
a straggler at this season in Kashghar—and one Little Grebe 
( Podiceps minor). AsI1 close the “door upon my happy (?) 
family, I can hear the ery of the Golden Eagle or Birkut 
(Aquila chrysaetus) in another room ; and a Karchighah or 
Goshawk (Astur palumbarius) has just been brought in. 
28th December— Kashghar.— Four days ago the Amir sent over 
a present of three heads of the Ovis Polei, ‘and one of an Lbea ; 
the heads had just been freshly severed from the trunks of the 
respective animals. The largest Oris Polei head weighed (with 
flesh and skin) 38 tbs; the smallest head, which I skinned, has 
the horns very perfect ; its horns measured 88 inches along the 
greater curvature, 15 inches in circumference at the base, and 
the spread of the horns is 84 inches, measured across from point 
to point. Christmas day, as may be supposed, passed off very 
quietly, and yesterday a lot of fine presents were sent by the 
Amir, a sure sign that we should soon get our congé. This 
morning we had a very satisfactory interview with His Hich- 
ness, and the rest of the day has been occupied in packing up : 
for to-morrow we start off on the return journey to Yarkand, 
where we are to spend the rest of the winter. 
The list of birds this month comprises the following Raptores : 
—Faleo Hendersoni, Falco barbarus, Lithofaleo esalon, Accipter 
nisus, dstur palumbarius (all scarce) ; T?nnunculus alaudarius, 
Circus ¢ yaneus, Otus vulgaris, dthene bactriana and Nyctea nivea. 
Lanius Homeyeri has not been very numerous, ‘lhe Crows, 
culminutus, corone, corniv and frugilegus have been as common as 
ever; as has also been the case with Colwus monedula and Pica 
baclriana. Passer montanus, Turtur Stoliczka, Erythrospiza 
obsoleta and Galerita magna are permanent residents, and have 
all been plentiful. Almost daily a Wagtail (Motacilla personata,) 
has visited our courtyard. Caccabis pallescens, Tetraogallus 
himalayensis and Tetraogallus tibetanus have been obtained 
from the hills quite close. Planesticus atrogularis, Alaudula 
pispoletta and Otocoris penicillata, and Phasianus Shawi have 
remained near us the same as last month. Only a few stray 
Starlings (.$. vulgaris) and Hoopoes have been seen ; while 
Fulica atra and Podiceps minor have been occasionally seen. 
Among waders, Herodias alba, Ardea cinerea, Botaurus stellaris 
are common, the White Heron especially so, Actitis ochro- 
eee very common ; Vanellus cristatus less numerous than 
ast month. Otis einaz and Afgialites fluviatilis have been 
obtained, but they were both probably stragglers. 
Among Ducks, the Mallard (Anas boschas) “has been very 
common, but I am not sure about the other species of this tribe. 
