THE BIRDS OF MONGOLIA ETC. 93 



247. ScoLOPAX RUSTicoLA, L. Valdshnepp. 



Was observed by us only in the Muni-ul mountains, in the middle of 

 April 1872, when we several times met with them at dusk. They were all 

 flying northwards. They breed in the Ussuri country ; and, according to the 

 statements of the sportsmen, they are very numerous there during migration, 

 especially at the mouth of the Ussuri and about Vladivostoc. 



248. Rhynch^a bengalensis, L. Pastuskoc zolotoy. 



We met with a female for the first time on the 5tli of May, on a small 

 marsh in S.E. Mongolia, not far from the Kalgan-Kiachta road, and afterwards 

 found it breeding at Lake Tsaidemin-nor. 



As far as I know, this species chooses for its habitat damp marshes, but 

 avoids very thick reeds. It only takes to wing in case of necessity, usually 

 moving for not more than a hundred yards ; and its flight is heavy. 



It does not occur in Kan-su, Koko-nor, and the Ussuri country. 



249. Rallus iNDTCUS, Blyth? Pastusheh vodianoy. 



It is very probable that this species, which inhabits the whole of Eastern 

 Asia and is so closely allied to the European R. aquaticus, was obtained 

 by us (in November 1872) in Tsaidam, on the unfrozen wells amidst some 

 marshes, where it was wintering. The bird shot by us was very much 

 knocked about, and therefore not preserved ; a second one we did not succeed 

 in kiUing, but later on observed it in the Hoang-ho valley in the beginning 

 of May. 



At Lake Hanka it arrives in the end of April, and also breeds there in 

 limited numbers. 



