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Show 1876.] MR. F. DAY ON THE FISHES OF YARKAND. 781 To Dr. Bonavia, of Lucknow, I am indebted for a third Oudh-killed specimen of Erythropus pekinensis. Though an adult cS, it has a few minute specks on the sternum ; and in reference to the difference in the plumage of the two species of Lesser Kestrels, I may add that Mr. Gurney agrees with me that the only constant difference between Erythropus cenchris and E. pekinensis is the breadth of grey on the wing. Athene radiata is, I find, very common in the districts north of the Ganges ; though somewhat local, in many places it almost replaces A. brama. I procured a fine series of the former at Shahje-hanpore in November last, within a radius of two hundred yards of my camp. These little Owlets have the habit of sitting in pairs, and sunning themselves, frequently up to midday, before retiring to their hiding-places. One shot generally kills both birds. They utter a peculiar and, to me, a pleasant note, something of a chirp in several keys, very different from the discordant noise made by A. brama. The following dimensions and colours of soft parts are applicable to a dozen specimens I have examined:- Wing from Tail from Length. carpal joint. vent. Tarsus. in. in. in. in. cS 8*0 5*7 30 10 2 8*3 5*9 3*1 1*1 I have also secured at Futtehgurh more examples of Aquilapennata, Accipiter virgatus (only immature ones), and Ephialtes sunia, all good birds for the locality. Of the last mentioned I have a live specimen in the grey phase of plumage, which swallows full-grown mice whole-a feat not a little surprising for a bird weighing only two oz. 2. On the Fishes of Yarkand. B y F R A N C I S D A Y , F.Z.S. [Received November 20, 1876.] In the year 1873 an expedition, under Mr. (now Sir) Douglas Forsyth, was despatched hy the Government of India to Yarkand, having for one of its objects the collection of specimens of Natural History. For this latter purpose m y lamented friend Dr. Stoliczka was attached to it as naturalist; and after his death the collection of fishes was conveyed to India, and subsequently forwarded to m e in this country for identification and description. The illness and subsequent death of Mr. Ford, the eminent artist, has delayed the execution of the Plates, and, as a consequence, m y portion of the work. The following notes refer to the entire collection of fishes obtained during the expedition (except, so far as I know, two specimens * ) . * Two specimens of Schizothorax chrysochlorus, obtained during the expedition, were presented to the British Museum. They were named after their donor, Schizothorax biddulphi. |