200 A CONTRIBUTION TO THE ORNITHOLOGY 
shade by the great variety of other Ducks and Teal then breed- 
ing about Yarkand. In winter it was usually found near 
unfrozen springs and streams, and in summer in lakes and 
swamps associated with other species of Duck. The condition 
of the bird obtained in April (noted above) and the occurrence 
of the two young birds preserved in July, prove conclusively 
that this Duck breeds near Yarkand. The Yarkandis say that 
of the twenty odd species of Duck which they discriminate, 
the Mallard is the only permanent resident in the vicinity of 
Kashghar and Yarkand; that it lays in April, the number of 
egos varying from ten to fifteen; and that the nest is placed 
amongst Yekan, i.e., rushes. 
A couple of Mallards, kept in confinement in a tank inside 
the Residency at Yarkand, formed a great friendship with a 
Red-crested Pochard (Branta rujina) and a Coot, who were also 
captives; but they would never associate with tame Ducks, 
always driving the latter away when they approached. The 
Turki name of the Mallard is Aurdak, which means simply 
Duck; and it is sometimes distinguished as Sun or Suna 
aurdak, 
962.—Dafila acuta, Linn. 
9. Yarkand, 15th March.—Uength, 21:75 ; expanse, 28°25 ; 
wing, 10; tail, 4:8; tarsus, 15; bill, from gape, 2°35 ; closed 
wings fall short of tail, 1°38; weight, 116 8:50z. Bill, black 
above, slate color below; irides, dark muddy brown; legs and 
toes, slaty green; webs, dusky ; claws, black. 
The Pintail Duck was occasionally seen near Yarkand in 
March, but only one specimen (a female) was obtained. Two 
experienced Yarkandi bird-catchers gave me the following in- 
formation about this species :—The male bird is ala, i.e., pied, 
black and white; it is a seasonal visitant only to Eastern 
Turkestan, arriving in spring and migrating to Hindostan at 
the beginning of winter, and it breeds in the neighbourhood of 
Maralbashi laying from ten to twelve eggs. It is called in 
Turki Cha sughsu aurdak. 
964.—Querquedula crecca, Linn. 
The Common Teal was only obtained at Kashghar in Novem- 
ber, at Sughuchak near Yarkand, by Mr. Shaw, in January, 
and at Beshkant, in the beginning of February. I was told that 
it migrated northwards to breed, and that it laid from eight to 
ten mottled eggs. The Turki name given for this species was 
Ala bash kurak aurdak, which means ‘ the mottle-headed patch- 
work duck ! 
