202 A CONTRIBUTION TO THE ORNITHOLOGY 
969.—Aythya nyroca, Guild. 
3. Yarkand, 25th April.—Length, 16°38; expanse, 26°8 ; 
wing, 7°3; tail, 2°6; tarsus, 1°15; bill, from gape, 2:0; closed 
wings fall short of tail, 1:4; weight, 1lb. 37502. Bill, webs, 
and claws, black ; legs, dark greenish; toes, slate colored. 
g- Juv. Sughuchak, 36th July.—Length, 16:1; expanse 
21; wing, o°l; tail, 2°4; tarsus, 1:1; bill, from gape, 1-75¢ 
wings fall short of tail, 3-4; weight, 15:50z. Bill, dusky, livid 
below; irides dark brown*; legs and feet, mottled dusky ; 
claws, black. 
9. Yarkand, 27th April_—Length, 16°5; expanse, 26; 
wing, 73; tail, 2°6; tarsus, 1; bill, from gape, 2; closed 
wings fall short of tail, 1:6; weight, llb. 50z. Bill, black, 
brownish below ; legs and toes, grey slate color ; webs, dusky ; 
claws, black. 
9. Juv. Yarkand, 18th July.— Length, 15:7 ; expanse, 26:2 ; 
wing, 7°05 ; tail, 2-1; tarsus, 1:2; bill, from gape, 1:9 ; closed 
wings fall short of tail, 1:4; weight, 15-40z. Bull, black above, 
ervey slaty below ; irides, brownish grey* ; legs and toes, dusky 
plumbeous ; webs, greyish black; claws, black. 
This species is very common during the summer, near 
Yarkand, where it arrives about March, migrating again south- 
wards at the beginning of winter. It breeds in Hastern Tur- 
kestan, laying in May or June, and is often seen flying about 
in pairs. The Turki name for this Duck is Chiki (or Chikit) kanat 
aurdak, the word chikit having some reference to the white 
speculum edged with black. 
972.—Mergus castor, Linn. 
A specimen of the Merganser was preserved at Kashehar 
on the 30th October, and it was tolerably common on the rivers 
near Kashghar during the months of November and December. 
The natives said it fed entirely on fish and water insects, and 
that it migrated eastward to the lake region of Lob. 
Its Turki name is Ala ghaz urdak, 7. e., the Variegated Goose- 
duck. 
g. Kashghar, 30th October.—Length, 25:3; wing, 11:5; 
tail, 5:8; tarsus, 1°8; bill, from gape, 2°85. Bill, dark blood 
red—ereyish dusky at tip ; legs and feet, orange red; claws, 
brown horny. 
973.—Mergellus albellus, Linn, 
The Smew was occasionally seen near Yarkand in the winter, 
but only one specimen, a female, was obtained in February near 
the Yarkand river, which was then completely frozen over. 
* Observed in the fresh bird and noted at the time. 
