OF EASTERN TURKESTAN. 159 
birds, and I had one so tame that it would hop about my table 
while I was writing, dip its beak into the inkstand and then 
«wipe the ink off on the tablecloth, and finally, as a climax of 
impudence, perch composedly on the top of my head ! 
The Turki name for this species is Saghizghén, and the 
Andijanis call it Askah. 
9. Kashghar, 22nd November.—Length, 183; wing, 8°32; 
tail, 10°4; tarsus, 1°95 ; bill, from gape, 1:55. Bill, legs, feet, 
and claws, black. 
9. Kashghar, 13th December.— Length, 16:5 ; wing, 7°6 ; tail, 
9°7; tarsus, 1°75; bill, from gape, 1-6. Bill, legs, feet, and 
claws, black. 
679—Fregilus graculus, Lin. 
The Red-billed Chough was first met within the limits of 
Eastern Turkestan on. the Sanju Pass in September 1874. The 
bill of a specimen which I then shot measured 2 inches straight 
from forehead to tip. On the return journey in August 1875, I 
found that the Beg of Sanju had a couple of tamed birds of this 
species which were allowed perfect liberty, but showed no dis- 
position to steal away to the hills) When we got into the hills 
they were seen every day and were very numerous about Kichik 
Yailak at an elevation of 12,000 feet. Some Turks told me 
that this species had acquired a red bill by persistently drinking 
the blood of dead animals, and there seems to be a general im- 
pression among the Kirghiz that the bird often feeds on carrion. 
The Turki name is Kizil tumchuk Kargha, the Red-billed Crow. 
$. Between the Sanju Pass and Kichik Yailak, 24th Septem- 
ber.—Length, 14:6; wing, 11:2; tail, 6; tarsus, 1:9; bill, 
straight from forehead to point, 1°94. 
Bill, orange red, base of lower mandible, blood red; legs, 
orange; feet, orange red; claws, black. 
679 bis.—Podoces Hendersoni, Hume. 
8. Shot between Koshtak and Sulikaziz Langar, 9th August.— 
Length, 11°4; expanse, 18:2; wing, 5°75; tail, 4°4; tarsus, 
16; bill, from gape, 1°8; closed wings fall short of tail, 2-1; 
weight, 4:9 oz. Bill, black towards tip, greyish black at base ; 
irides, dark brown; legs, black; feet, greyish black; claws, 
black. The testes small. 
g. Juv. Shot in the desert ground between Sulaghiz Langar 
and Sanju, 10th August.—Length, 11:2; expanse, 17°3; wing, 
5:5; tail, 4-2; tarsus, 1°5; bill from gape, 1:7; closed wings fall 
short of tail, 2°3; weight, 34 oz. Bill, legs, feet, ‘and claws, 
Weak soles of feet, grey ; irides, dark brown. ‘The testes very 
small, 
