OF EASTERN TURKESTAN. 191 
Bill, black ; irides, dark red and blood red; legs and feet, 
pinkish red and red; claws, dusky black. 
The Stilt is a seasonal visitant to the plains of Eastern 
Turkestan, where it breeds. It arrives in May and probably 
leaves about the end of September : it was never seen in winter. 
Near Yarkand, in summer the birds were found in enormous 
numbers, frequenting small salt pools, little lakes, and marshy 
ground, In June I noticed that when these birds were disturbed 
they used to hover over one and could therefore be very easily 
shot. The cry of this bird isa kind of plaintive, but shrill 
sound, something like erek, erék; in flying about they were 
often mixed up with the Terns, Sterna fluviatilis and Sternula 
nmuinuta. The Turki name for this species is Kakhshal pachak, 
“ Stilt (?) leg.” 
903.—Fulica atra, Linn. 
Three males measured and weighed.—Length, 16:1; expanse, 
28°5 ; wing, 8°6 to 8°65; tail, 2:1 to 2°6; tarsus,_2°2 to 2-4; 
bill from gape, 1°3 to 1:6; closed wings fall short of tail, 0°8; 
weight, 1tb to 1ib 15o0z. 
Bill and frontal shield, milky white, with a pink tinge near the 
nares ; irides, red or dark red ; legs, greenish plumbeous, with an 
orange and green garter below feathered portion of tibia; toes, 
plumbeous ; the webs, dusky at their free margins ; claws, black. 
g. Juv. Tungtash, 4th August.—Length, 11°5; expanse, 12 ; 
wing, 2°33; tail, 1-1; tarsus, 1°65; bill, from gape, 1-17; closed 
wings fall short of tail, 3-9: weight, 90z. Bill, dusky, grey at 
tip ; irides, reddish brown ; legs and feet, dusky greenish ; claws, 
dusky. 
@. Yarkand, 14th June.-—Wing, 7:9; tarsus, 1:9; bill, from 
gape, 1-4. Bill, white, tinged with rose color; frontal shield, 
pure white; legs, greenish, with patches of orange yellow; 
feet, grey dusky ; claws, black. 
9. Juv. Soghuchak, 15th July.—Length, 15:4; expanse, 26°5 ; 
wing, 7°5; tail, 2°2; tarsus, 2°2; bill, from gape, 1:3; closed 
wings fall short of tail, 1:6; weight, 1tb 40z. Bill, dusky ; 
frontal shield, grey; irides, light hazel; legs and feet, grey 
plumbeous, dusky in parts ; claws, black. 
The Coot is exceedingly common in the plains of Kashgharia 
from March to October; very few of the birds are to be seen 
during the winter. It is found on all lakes and jheels; often 
near springs and small streams. When alarmed it scuds across 
the water, seldom flying up, but flapping the surface of the 
water until it can hide among the rushes ; it is also a wonder- 
fully good diver. This species breeds, in Turkestan, in May, 
JuneandJuly. On the 10th June, the nest of a Coot, containing 
