322 Capt. Blakiston on the Ornithology of Northern Japan. 



lected to bring away with me any of this superior kind of bird- 

 lime, or to gain any knowledge of its composition. 



SiTTA ROSEiLiA, Bp., Consp. p. 227. 



A beautiful species of Nuthatch, of which but one specimen 

 was preserved. It was obtained on the 20th October, during 

 my return from a very interesting and pleasant excursion to the 

 active volcano of Comanataki, about five-and-twenty miles to 

 :)he north of Hakodadi, and near the southern shore of Volcano 

 Bay, an extensive inlet from the eastern or Pacific side, which 

 nearly cuts off the southern portion of the island of Yesso. On 

 this occasion we left Hakodadi (a party of English and Ameri- 

 cans, six in number) on the morning of the 17th, on horseback, 

 having pack-animals, in charge of Japanese servants, carrying 

 our provisions and blankets. Skirting the shore of the bay for 

 about four miles, along which, as the tide was out, we were able 

 to ride on the smooth sand-beach, we thence followed the 

 northern road across a broad valley, or rather plain, which lies 

 between ranges of hills on either hand, and is otherwise bounded 

 by the sea. After the fishing-hamlets on the shore, the little 

 villages of neat wooden houses with thatched roofs, surrounded 

 by gardens and coppices, in the midst of well-cultivated land, 

 were refreshing and pleasing to behold. Most of the crops were 

 already housed ; but some little rice, owned probably by the 

 more lazy farmers, was not cut, and potatoes, beans, and the 

 long white turnips, called "dygons," were being rapidly got 

 up. We halted in the middle of the day at a large village called 

 " Ono,'^ where we baited our animals and refreshed ourselves on 

 boiled maize-heads, pears, sweet cakes, tea and beer. Soon 

 after leaving this place, we commenced to ascend, the road lead- 

 ing zigzag up the steep slope of a finely wooded ridge, until we 

 reached the crest, where splendid views lay open on both sides. 

 To the northward was the sharp peak and lava-covered sides of 

 the volcano, with a beautiful lake reposing at its foot, and wild 

 forest country all around ; while behind us we looked down on the 

 plain we had traversed, and the bay and peninsula of Hakodadi 

 as a panorama. The weather was delightful, bright, clear, and 

 invigorating, and everything augured well for a pleasant excur- 



