4 SECOND YARKAND MISSION. 



It never seems to tire, and always appears keenly intent on looking for its prey, every now 

 and then suddenly dropping down among the reeds, as if shot, but soon rising again to resume 

 its hunting. The male bird is called by the Yarkandis ' Kok Sa' (the Blue 'Sa'), and the 

 female ' Kilati Sa,' the word Sd being a sort of generic name applied to all Buzzards, Kites, 

 and Harriers, an added second word (usually having reference to colour or shape) marking 

 the species." 



In his paper on the birds of the Pamir Bange the late Dr. Severtzow says that the Hen- 

 Harrier was seen by him during its migration near the Kara-Kul lake, and was found on the 

 Alai. Immature birds were rather common. 



3. CmCUS JilRUGINQSUS. 



Circus ceruginosus (L.) ; Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. i. p. 69 (1874) ; Scully, Str. F. iv. p. 126 (1876) j 

 Blanf. East. Persia, ii. p. 110 (1876) ; Bidd. Ibis, 1881, p. 43; Scully, ibid. p. 422; C. Swinh. Ibis, 

 1882, p. 100; Severtz. Ibis, 1883, p. 54; Homeyer & Tancre, MT. orn. Ver. Wien, 1883, p. 82; 

 Scully, J. A.S. Beng. Ivi. p. 78 (1887) ; Eadde, Ornis, iii. p. 472 (1887) ; Sliarpe, Trans. Linn. Soc. 

 (2) Zool. V. part 3, p. 66 (1889). 

 Circus rufus, Severtz. Turkest. Jevotn. p. 63 (1873) ; Dresser, Ibis, 1875, p. 109; Zarudn. Ois. Transcasp. 

 p. 23(1885). 

 No. 727, $ juY. Tanksi, September 17, 1873.— Length 21-5 inches, wing 16-3, tail 9*5, 

 tarsus 3*45 ; expanse 51-0. Iris brown ; bill horny black, cere greenish or yellowish 

 green. Closed wing reached within 2 inches of end of tail. [A young bird.] 

 No. 1021. Yarkand, November 13, 1873. [An interesting specimen emerging from the 



young into the adult plumage by a moult.] 

 No. 1528, <^. Panjah, April 20, 1874. — Length 20*6 inches, wing 16*0, tail 9"5, tarsus 

 3*6 ; expanse 51*0. Iris golden ; bill bluish black, cere greenish yellow ; feet yellow, 

 claws horny black. 



Hunting around swamp about 4^ miles west of Panjah with another specimen quite 

 similar to this one. Both often sat down among the high reeds in the swamp, perhaps 

 making their nest among the reeds. [A fully adult male.] 



Dr. Scully writes : — " The Marsh-Harrier is tolerably common in Eastern Turkestan, 

 where it is often seen during the summer hunting over the long rushes and reeds which grow 

 in marshy ground or on the banks of lakes. It was never seen in winter. This species is 

 said to feed chiefly on frogs, rats, and lizards ; occasionally also on the Reedling ( Calamo- 

 phihts biarmicus). It breeds in Kashgharia, where it is called by the natives Akhash Sd, the 

 White-headed ' Sa.' " 



Dr. Severtzow, during his exploration of the Pamir, found the Marsh-Harrier during 

 migration near the Kara-Kul in the beginning of September. It was also seen near Ean- 

 Kul in the middle of August; probably young ones come to the Pamir in summer. 



4. CmCTJS MACRUEUS. 



Circus macrurus (Gm.) ; Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. i. p. 67 (1874) ; Scully, J. A. S. Beng. Ivi. p. 78 



(1887). 

 Strigiceps pallidus, Severtz. Turkest. Jevotn. p. 109 (1873) ; Zarudn. Ois. Transcasp. p. 24 (1885). 

 Circus swainsonii, Dresser, Ibis, 1875, p. 109; Scully, Str. F. iv. p. 125 (1876). 

 Circus pallidus, Homeyer & Tancre, MT. orn. Ver. Wien, 1883, p. 83. 



Dr. Scully believes that he saw this species at Kichik Tailak (12,054i feet) on the 19th 

 of August, but failed to hit the bird. The Kirghiz called it '' Boz Sa " (the Grey ' Sa '). 



