OF EASTERN TURKESTAN. 193 
black, greenish at tip and below; irides, brownish grey; legs 
and feet, dark green ; claws, black. 
Nestling, in deep greenish black plumage, Yarkand, 19th 
July.—Length, 6; tarsus, 11; bill, from gape, 0°96; weight, 
1:2 oz. Bill greenish, plumbeous above and at tip; irides, 
very dark greyish; legs and feet, dusky brownish; claws, brown 
horny. 
The Water-hen was tolerably common in the plains in sum- 
mer, where it breeds; it was never met with during the winter. 
It frequented jheels and swamps, running about with great 
ease on the fallen rushes floating on the surface of the water; 
it was often noticed flirting up its tail and thus showing the 
white feathers in it, very conspicuously. The Turki name for 
this species is Kodan, and it is sometimes also called Kharonah 
(c.f. Kharun, Persian—a restive horse.) 
909.—Porzana maruetta, Briss. 
A single specimen of the Spotted Rail was captured at 
Toghrasu on the 21st September, elevation 11,265 feet. The 
bird was probably migrating southwards.* 
910.—Porzana pygmea, Naum. 
A single specimen of this species was obtained in marshy 
ground near the city of Yarkand, on the 29th June. The bird 
was shot by a soldier of the escort and the skin given to me 
by Mr. R. B. Shaw. ‘This species was not at all common near 
Yarkand, but it is probable that a few birds breed there. 
Length, 7:3 ; wing, 3°6; tarsus, 1:1; bill, from gape, 0°85. 
Bill, dark green; legs and feet, greenish brown ; claws, brown 
horny. 
914 d¢s.—Rallus aquaticus, Linn. 
Four males ( Yarkand, July) measured and weighed.—Length, 
11°7 to 12:1; expanse, 16-6 to 16:7; wing, 4°85 to 4:9; tail, 
2°0 to 2°8; tarsus, 1:55 to 1°6; bill, from gape, 1:8 to 19; 
closed wings fall short of tail, 1:2 to 135; weight, 3:1 oz. to 
4-1 oz. Bill: upper mandible brown above, greyish horny at 
tip, orange red at sides of base; lower mandible, greyish or 
brownish horny at tip, orange red for the rest of its extent. 
Indes, brick red ; legs and feet, fleshy brown; claws, livid horny. 
9. Yarkand, 20th July—Length, 11; expanse, 15-6; wing, 
4°6; tail, 2°35 ; tarsus, 1:6; bill, from gape, 1:7; closed wings 
fall short of tail, 1:0; weight, 3 oz. Bill, dusky brown above 
and at tip, orange red below, and at sides of base; irides, brick 
red ; legs and feet, fleshy brown; claws, brownish horny. 
* It is very remarkable that the only specimen of this Rail obtained by Dr. Hender- 
son was caught at the karatagh Lake, at an elevation of 16,000 feet, just 62 miles south 
of Toghrasu, on the 24th September.—Eb. 8S. F. 
AMI 
