220 ON DROMAS ARDEOLA. 



Let us turn now to the larger swamps and rivers both at 

 Kasbgar and Yarkand. During the first half of the winter, 

 Vanellus cristatus, Charadrius fulvus, Tringa minuta, Totanus 

 calidris and stagnatilis, Ardetta minuta, Mergus castor, Galli- 

 nago scolapacinus and solitarius, and Graculus carbo were com- 

 mon. When snow fell several of them appear to have moved 

 more eastwards. Among ducks, Anas boschas is the commonest 

 during the whole winter, on every river that does not freeze 

 on account of the strong current. Besides that I observed Quer- 

 quedula crecca, Branta ruftna,* Spatula clypeata, Casarca rutila, 

 Mergellus albellus, which were occasionally shot. Among 

 waders Ardea cinerea, Actitis ocrophus, are common ; some- 

 what less so Herodias alba, and Botaurus stellaris. Scolopax 

 rustica was shot in November and December, but was not ob- 

 served later. It moved probably more to the east. Fulica atra 

 and Porzana maruetta aud the little grebe I only saw on a few 

 occasions near tepid springs. 



In the surrounding hills the number of birds is very small ; 

 as common I observed Columba rupicola, yoimgCaccabis pallidus 

 or rather grceca, a Passer^ of the type of pyrrhonotus, 

 Linota brevirostris, a beautiful little tit-like bird,| apparently 

 quite new, a black-cheeked Accentor ,§ Cinclus leucogaster, Fre- 

 gilus graculus, Pyrrliocorax alpinus, Podoces Hendersoni, Otocoris 

 penicillata, Montif ring ilia Adamsi, Tetraogallus tibetanus,\\ 

 Aguila chrysaetos, Gypaetos barbatus. 



I observed no Saxicola, no Pratiucola, no Swallows or Swifts, 

 no Fly catchers,, no Honey-suckers and none of the Timalidas. 



§n ivomas grkok 



By W. Vincent Legge, R.A. 



Mr. Layard, in his invaluable notes on Ceylon birds (Aunals 

 and Magazine of Natural History, 1854) says : — " I place this 

 bird (D. ardeola) among the Terns, as I cannot help agreeing 

 with Blyth in his remarks upon its affinities and position/ 7 He 

 goes on to say : — " I have obtained several specimens, all at sea, 

 with the exception of one, aud that was shot on^[ Calpentyn 

 Lake/' 



* Aytliya ferina, Lin. — Ed. 



•f Passer ammodendri, Severts. — Ed. 



X Stoliczkana Stoliczka, Hume, S. F., Vol. II., p. 513. — Ed. 



§ Accentor montanellus, Pall. — Ed. 



j| The specimens preserved are not tibetanus, Gould, but a pale variety, doubtfully 

 distinct, of Tetraogallus himalayensis, Gray. — Ed. 



% A large inland bay or salt lagoon on the west coast, north of Colombo, a great re- 

 sort of waders and wild fowl. 



