OF EASTERN TURKESTAN. 109 
female, and a pair of Linota brevirostris which I secured. 
Ptionoprogne rupestris, Pyrrhocorae alpinus and Columba rupi- 
cola were numerous; and Jeuticilla rufiventris, common along 
the banks of the stream. Then we began an ea sy, but toler- 
ably steep, ascent to the Chuchu Pass. The ground was soft 
and there was a good deal of short grass growing on the hill 
sides, on which herds were feeding. On the top of the Pass, 
the ‘mercurial barometer stood at 19-564 (height, about 11,600 
feet above sea level), and the temperature of the air at 10 a.m, 
was 39.° Hundred of Choughs (P. alpinus) were flying about, 
and Montifringilla Adamst was common on the hill sides— 
looking very white-colored as it flew in flocks from place to 
place; some Vultures (V. monachus?) were subsequently seen 
near the top of the pass. The descent was rapid and steep ; 
then along a narrow rocky gorge where the road was very bad ; 
and finally a broader valley, where I noticed several ‘talus fans,’ 
led at right angles into the valley of the Sanju stream. 
We forded the river, the water of which is decidedly 
greenish in color, and encamped on its bank, on a flat bit 
of ground. 
The Crag Martin, Chough (a/pinus), Hill-Pigeon, Redstart 
(onfiventris) and Wagtail (M. personata) have all been common 
on this side of the Pass; and after getting into camp I saw the 
Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucus) walking on the stones by 
the banks of this stream. The elevation of this place is about 
8,700 feet. 
17th.—A short march to-day, crossing the Sanju stream 
repeatedly. About three miles from last night’s camp we 
passed the ruined wall which had been built in olden times to 
protect the valley. Then we came to Tam, where there were 
many fields of barley, only just ripe. After leaving Tam the 
valley narrowed and a good deal of vegetation began to appear 
on the banks of the stream: thickets of Tamarisk and willows, 
and in every open spaces patches of bright green grass. Plea- 
sant weather in the morning, but during the afternoon the sky 
became overcast; and we had some rain in the evening. Mini- 
mum temperature last night 47°95. The following is a list of 
the birds met with to-day : Ptionoprogne rupestris, Upupa epops, 
Tichodroma muraria, Motacilla personata, Ruticilla rufiventris, 
Parus cyanus, Phylloscopus tristis, Phylloscopus viridanus, Regu- 
loides viridipennis, Pratincola indica, Pyrrhocorax alpinus, 
Linota brevirostris and F) ingilauda sordida.. The only birds 
among the above, found in the plains, are the Wagtail and 
Hoopoe ; 3; and two species which have been so very familiar for 
many months past, viz., Corvus culminatus and Passer montanus, 
have disappeared from the scene. 
