DETAILED LIST OF BIRDS. 
297 
time. They were never previously noticed. This species 
doubtless goes far north to breed, and is a winter visitant to 
Kashmir, as well as to the plains of India. [G. H.] 
964. Querquedula crecca (Linn.). 
The Common Teal was never seen either on the way to or 
in Yarkand ; the first specimen was met with on the return 
journey, near the hot springs at Gokra, at an elevation of 
between 15,000 and 16,000 feet. Later in October they 
were seen on the Indus, near Le, and at Kargil, also in 
Ladak. Probably this species does not breed so far south 
as Yarkand, and the birds seen on the return journey were 
doubtless migrating to their winter quarters in Hindostan. 
[G. H.] 
969. Aythya nyroca (Guldenstadt). 
This species was observed in Kashmir (on the lakes in 
which it breeds) both on the upward and downward 
journey. [G. H.] 
I believe that this species breeds in some localities in the 
plains of India, but I have never succeeded in finding the 
nest. The only eggs that I have seen were procured in the 
Wuller Lake, Kashmir, in June. There were six, varying 
from 1-9 to 2*08 inches in length, and from 1-45 to 1'53 
in breadth. They had a faint gloss and wei'e regular ovals 
of an uniform very pale slightly yellowish green, or greenish 
white. [A.O.H.] 
972. Mergus castor. Linn. 
A young half-fledged Merganser was caught in the 
Indus near Le, in July, 1870. It was kept alive for some 
days. [G. H.] 
The bird probably breeds in Ladak, both in the valley of 
the Indus and the Shyok, as it does in almost all our 
northern Indian rivers, high up in the Himalayas, and 
more or less near their sources. As the winter comes on, 
they drop down stream and are to be found, during the 
cold season, in small parties in almost every large stream 
that debouches from the Himalayas, just where it leaves 
the hills. [A. O. H.] 
