OF EASTERN TURKESTAN. IY : 
seemed to be very fond of rocky cliffs, and usually flew about 
in small flocks or parties. The Turki name for this species is 
Yawd Kabtar—Wild Pigeon. 
792 dis.—Turtur auritus, Ray. 
Sia males, shot at Yarkand in May and June.—Uength, 
1l:1 to 11:3; expanse, 20 to 20-9; wing, 6:9 to 7:05; tail, 
4°6 to 5°3; tarsus, 0°8 to 0°85; bill, from gape, 0°85 to 0-9; 
closed wings fall short of tail, 1°5 to 1°8; weight, 4-40z. to 
D‘40z. 
Bill, greyish black ; irides, orange yellow; edge of gape and 
orbital skin, purple; legs and feet, purple and purplish red; 
claws, black, blackish horny, and dusky horny. 
Q. Yarkand, 28th May.—Length, 11; expanse, 19-7; wing, 
6°8 ; tail, 4°7; tarsus, 0°85; closed wings fall short of tail, 
1:6; weight, 4°20z. 
Bill, greyish black; orbital skin, purple; irides, orange yel- 
low; legs and feet, purplish red ; claws black. 
The Turtle Dove isa seasonal visitant to the plains of Eastern 
Turkestan, arriving in May and migrating towards the end of 
September or the beginning of October ; it was never observed 
in winter. This Dove frequents trees, and orchards; and in 
May and June its beautiful, soft, musical note could be heard 
every day about the neighbourhood of Yarkand. It lays in 
May and June; and on the 15th of the latter month, I saw 
two very young nestlings of this species. On the 28th of May 
I found a nest of this species. It was a loose kind of cup, 
composed of twigs, and placed in the fork of a willow tree, 
about seven feet above the ground. It contained only one egg, 
the contents of which were found to be quite fluid; the female 
bird was sitting on the nest at the time, and only flew away, 
when I gotclose to it. On the 12th June a nest of the Turtle 
Dove, containing two eggs, was found ina thorn bush. On 
the 25th June I found another nest, containing one eee—much 
incubated to judge by the color. A thick main branch of a 
willow tree had been cut off, and on the horizontal face of this 
cut stump—which was slightly concave—a few twigs were ar- 
ranged in a concentric manner forming a thin shallow cup in the 
centre of which the egg rested. The twigs of this bedding were 
so loosely put together, that the wood of the tree could be seen 
through them. 
The three eggs of this Dove, which I have, are pure white 
and glossy. In shape they be may described as regular oval, 
a somewhat pointed oval, and a longish narrow oval. They 
measure 1:36 by 0°91; 1:28 by 0°9; and 1:18 by 0°89. Aver- 
ave of the three eggs 1:27 in length by 0:9 in breadth. 
Y 
