OF EASTERN TURKESTAN. 125 
45 bis.—Buteo japonicus,* Schlegel. 
Three females, shot at Yarkand in January.—Length, 20°5 to 
21; wing, 15:3 to 16-7; tail, 89 to 9:1; tarsus, 2°85 to barely 
30; bill, from gape, 1°55 to 1°75. 
Bill, plumbeous black; cere, legs, and feet, greenish yellow; 
claws, black. 
Common near Yarkand during the winter. A dark specimen 
was called Kara Sa, the Black “ Sa ;” but this species was really 
not discriminated from the preceding two. Never met with in 
the plains after the winter was fairly over. 
50.—Circus cyaneus, Zin. 
g- Yarkand, \7th January.—Length, 17; expanse, 39:5; 
wing, 13°4; tail, 8°76; tarsus, 2°5; bill, from gape, 1:15. 
Bill, bluish black; cere, greenish yellow; irides, light yellow; 
legs and feet, bright yellow ; claws, black. 
¢ Yarkand, 18th March.—Length, 20; expanse, 44; wing, 
14°65; tail, 10°5; tarsus, 2°75; bill from gape, 1°35; closed 
wings fall short of tail, 2-1; weight, 15°6 oz. Bill, plumbeous 
black; cere, gape, and edges of eyelids, greenish yellow; 
irides, straw color; legs and feet, yellow ; claws, black. 
The Hen-Harrier is a permanent resident in the plains of 
Kashgharia and breeds there; the nest is said to be placed in 
long grass jungle. I often observed this bird sailing low, over 
rush-grown marshes and bare fields, with a wonderfully long 
sustained flight. It never seems to tire and always appears 
keenly intent on looking for its prey; every now and then 
suddenly dropping down among the reeds, as if shot, but soon 
rising again to resume its hunting. The male bird is called by 
the Yarkandis Kok Sa—the Blue “Sa,” and the female, Kilati 
Sa; the word Sa being a sort of generic name applied to all 
Buzzards, Kites and Harriers, an added second word (usually 
having reference to color or shape) marking the species. 
51.—Circus Swainsonii, A. Smith. 
A single male bird of, (I believe,) this species was seen at 
Kichik Yailak (12,054 feet) on the 19th August. It sailed slowly 
over our camp, regularly quartering the place, so I had a good 
opportunity of observing it. The bird was somewhat larger than 
Circus cyaneus, but had no bluish tinge whatever about it: it 
was greyish white below, above pale grey, with the wings a 
little darker. I watched it for some time and at last got rather 
a long shot at it, but missed. The Kirghiz called it Boz Sa— 
the Grey “ Sa.” 
* Mr. Sharpe considers this species identical with B. Plwmipes, Hodgs. I suspend 
my opinion of this point—A, O, H. 
