92 A CONTRIBUTION TO THE ORNITHOLOGY 
First then, the Hobby (Hypotriorchis subbuteo) is now a 
common bird here ; hunting over the fields and perching on 
the poplar trees. The Kestrel is as common as ever; and 
the Sparrow Hawk (Accipiter nisus) seems to be plentiful near 
the foot of the hills south of Yarkand, in the Karchung valley. 
The Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus) still keeps in our neighbour- 
hood ; and more numerous than it, we have this month the 
Marsh Harrier (Circus @ruginosus), called by the natives 
Akbash Sa—White-headed “Sa.” The Kite (Milvus melanotis) is 
now common ; but the Hagle Owl (Bubo mazimus) and Athene 
bactriana are rarely seen here. Both the latter birds are probably 
devoting themselves to family matters at some distance from 
the environs of Yarkand. 
The Swallows (f. rustica) are exceedingly numerous ; and 
the Swifts (Cypselus acuticanda and C. pekwnensis) are to be 
seen, morning and evening, flying over the Fort and City. 
The Cuckoo ( Cuculus canorus) is plentiful, and its well-known 
cry is heard in every lane and orchard. The Hoopoe is very 
common ; and Lanius arenarius (in great numbers) continues 
to be the only Shrike in the neighbourhood of Yarkand. The 
mellow whistle of the Oriole (O. kundoo) is heard every day 
near orchards and tanks, and I have got many specimens of 
the bird. I notice that the wing of these birds is decidedly 
longer than what I find recorded about Oriolus kundoo got 
in India; and as O. kundoo breeds in India why should 
the same bird visit Central Asia for that purpose? Can our 
bird be a distinct species? and shall I hereafter have the 
supreme felicity of writing about Oriolus Yarkandensis, 
nobis ! 2 
Savicola isabellina, Cyanecula suecica and Acrocephalus arun- 
dinaceus continue to be common. Suya albosuperciliaris has 
been obtained in long grass; it is called by the natives Suram. 
Two other novelties to my list are Phyllopneuste rama and the 
Barred Warbler (Nisoria undata). Both these birds frequent 
orchards and vineyards; P. rama sings sweetly, but the 
melodious song of Nisoria undata is far superior, and has gained 
for the bird the name of Bulbul in Hastern Turkestan. Sylvia 
curruca, Motacilla personata, Budytes citreola, Calamophilus 
biarmicus, Corvus corone, Corvus culminatus, Sturnus vulgaris, 
Passer salicicolus, and Passer montanus I need only mention 
ascommon. Lmberiza pyrrhuloides is now only seen at the 
edge of marshy ground overgrown with rushes. uspiza 
luteola is very numerous near all the fields, and has a very 
pleasant note; and Lrythrospiza obsoleta now haunts the orchards 
and close clumps of trees, which it enlivens with its song. 
Alaudula pispoletta seems steadily to prefer arid sandy 
