146 THE BIEDS OF MONGOLIA ETC. 



The female was much more cautious, and did not return for a long time 

 after the male was killed. 



10. Pandion haltaetus, L. Scopa retchnaya. 



In the waterless deserts of Mongolia this species of course cannot exist, 

 not being able to procure its food. We met with it for the first time at the 

 end of April 1872, in the valley of the northern bend of the Hoang-ho, which 

 then was flooded and abounded with fish. In all probability these birds were 

 only migrating, as we never saw any Ospreys in summer about this valley; 

 and I doubt if they can exist here, the water of the Hoang-ho being very muddy 

 and consequently not adapted for catching fish. During the spring migration 

 we met with this species again in Kan-su, and killed a female specimen on the 

 river Buguk-gol ; and about the beginning of May one of my party observed 

 several flying singly northwards along the valleys of the river Ranghta-gol. 

 In Koko-nor we never saw it. 



Mr. Swinhoe says (P. Z. S. 1863, p. 260) that the Chinese Osprey is 

 somewhat smaller than the European form ; and this statement is confirmed 

 also by our specimen from Kan-su. 



Measurements— length 22'', width 6l'\ wing 19''-5, tail 9'', tarsus 2''-5. 



In the Ussuri country it is to be met with, if not very frequently, still 

 certainly not rarely, but only during migration, which takes place at the end 

 of September. On Lake Hanka, notwithstanding the large amount of fish, 

 the Osprey is very scarce, probably on account of the dull and muddy water, 

 from which cause it is also rare at the Yellow River. 



11. Haliaetus ALBiciLLA, L. Orhu helohvost. 



This bird frequents the shores of the sea or the lower inland lakes, and 

 has been found by us in S.E. Mongolia, on Dalai-nor and near the town of 

 Dolon-nor. In Ordos, Ala-shan, and Kan-su we did not observe it ; but in 

 Koko-nor we saw a pair about the middle of March. In Ussuri country, and 



