OF EASTERN TURKESTAN. 129 
A single specimen of this splendid bird was obtained, alive, 
at Kashghar in December. It was caught by a native while 
committing some depredations on his poultry yard, and it re- 
mained in my possession for more than a month before it died, 
and was skinned to enrich my collection. It was stated to 
live and breed in the hills north of Kashehar; its prey, I was 
told, consisting of Chicore, hares, hedge-hogs! &c. The Turki 
name for the Snowy Owl is Baikush, i.e., ‘the noble bird.’ 
While in confinement it did not seem to care about feeding on 
raw meat like the Falcons and Hawks, but preferred the carcase 
of some dead bird to devour at leisure. 
70 bis.—Bubo maximus,* Sibbald. 
(1). §. Yarkand, 3rd April.—Length, 24:5; expanse, 
64; wing, 19; tail, 10-4; tarsus, 2°6; bill, from gape, 2; closed 
wings fall short of tail, 2°3; weight, 3ibs. 14°5 oz. Bill, dark 
slate color; irides, bright golden orange; soles of feet, dirty 
white; claws, dusky at their bases and below; dark blue to- 
wards the tips. 
(2). 3. Karghalik, 18th April—Length, 25:5; expanse 
65°35; wing, 18:8; tail, 11:2; tarsus, 2°8; bill, from gape, 2; 
closed wings fall short of tail, 1:8; weight, 3tbs. 7-250z. Bill, 
dark slaty blue; irides, golden orange; claws, dusky at base 
—dark blue at tips; soles of feet, dirty white. 
(8). %. Yarkand, 3rd April.—Length, 26°75 ; expanse, 68°75; 
wing, 18°5; tail, 11:0; tarsus, 3°3 ; bill, from gape, 2:2; closed 
wings fall short of tail, 25; weight, 5fbs. 8°5 oz. Bill, dark 
slate color; irides, bright golden orange; claws, dusky at bases 
and beneath, black at tips; soles of feet, dirty white. 
This fine Owl, called in Turki Hui kush—the “ hui” bird, was 
first seen, in open waste ground, near Beshkant on the 4th 
February. It was attended by a flock of Crows (C. intermedius) 
who seemed to be tormenting it—flying after it and surround- 
ing it when it settled on the ground, but always keeping at a 
respectful distance. The bird was again met with at Tungtash 
near Karghalik in August sitting among long grass and reeds, 
overlooking water where hundreds of Coots (Ff. atra) and Ducks * 
(Aythya nyroca and Casarca rutila) were swimming about 
with their young; these young birds as well as the Moorhen 
(G. chloropus) which was common about, might be expected to 
fall an easy prey to the concealed but watchful Eagle Owl. I 
noticed on the occasions when I saw this Owl that he was 
very wary and would never allow one to get within shot of him. 
The three birds whose dimensions I have given above were 
brought to me alive: they were bad tempered; snapping their 
* These belong to the pale form B. sibiricus, Eversm.—A. O. H. 
R 
