OF EASTERN TURKESTAN, 117 
8.—Falco peregrinus, Lin. 
A few stragglers of the Peregrine Falcon are occasionally 
seen near the city of Yarkand during the winter. The Yar- 
kandi falconers say that this bird is commonly found near the 
hills north of Eastern Turkestan in the neighbourhood of Ush- 
turfan, Aksu and Ii (Kuldja): and that many breed near 
Maralbashi, the nest being usually placed among reeds! They 
also add that in the wild state the Peregrine always preys on 
ducks, teal and various waders. ‘The male is considered use- 
less for sport, but the female is held in great esteem for the 
purposes of falconry; it is trained to strike herons, geese, 
ducks and bitterns. The name given to this Falcon in Turkes- 
tan is Bahri—an Arabic word meaning ‘ of the river’ or ‘of 
the sea””—thus implying that the Peregrine is a water haunting 
species. 
Dimensions, &c., of a male obtained at Yarkand in March 
1875.: Length, 15:5; expanse, 38; wing, 12:2; tail, 6-6; tar- 
sus, 2; bill, from gape, 1:2; wings fall short of tail, 0-5; 
weight, 18 ounces. Bill, very dark blue at tip, light slaty blue 
at base; cere and orbital skin, yellow; irides, dark muddy 
brown ; legs and toes, light yellow ; claws, black. 
10 dis.—Falco Hendersoni, Hume. 
Dimensions of a female purchased at Kashghar, November 
1874, skinned at Yarkand, February 1875: 
Length, 21°5 ; wing, 15°6; tail, 9°5 ; tarsus, 2°25; bill, from 
gape, 1:5; tarsus feathered for, 1:0; weight, 2tbs. 7:25 oz. 
Bill light slaty blue, darker at tip. Cere light yellow. Orbital 
skin pale yellowish. Irides dark brown. Legs light yellow; 
toes yellow with a greenish tinge. Claws black. The ovari- 
rium contained three ova, the size of small peas. 
The Turki name of this bird is “ ditalgu,” and all competent 
authorities in such matters in Kashgharia assert positively 
that it is the female of the famed “ Shunkar.” The bird is rare 
in Hastern Turkistan, but is said to be a permanent. resident 
and to breed there. I heard that it was occasionally obtained 
in the Dolan forest region—in the direction of Aksu; from 
the district of Lob; from the hills near Sanju; and from the 
neighbourhood of Karchung, south-west of Yarkand. The 
* Shunkar” is the most highly prized of all the falcons, and 
whenever one is caught it is at ence taken to the Amir, the 
Dad Khwah of Yarkand, or the Governor of the district; the 
“ Aitalgu’” is not at all prized, and is considered hardly worth 
training. An experienced old Yarkandi bird-catcher in looking 
at the pictures in my copy of ‘Lahore to Yarkand’ one day, 
