KAST NEPAL AND THE SIKKIM HIMALAYA MOUNTAINS. 125 



Xanthoxylon, Hypericum, Osbeckia ; a few thistles commence 

 flowering, with gnaphaloid Composite', but not so freely or fully 

 as Eupatorium, blue CichoracecB, Myriactis, Callinieris, two 

 Artemisias, Picris, Inula, Doronicum, and Mulgedium. In 

 open places at 8000 feet Euphrasia, Drosera peltata, Neottia 

 (Bstivalis, Dijjsacus, Halenia, and Erigerons flower. 



In tlie kitchen-garden potatoes are planted with manure, and 

 towards the end of the month the haulms of the early sorts 

 wither, and the roots are stored. Table vegetables are abun- 

 dant, with legumes of all kinds, turnips, radishes, carrots, 

 lettuce, all varieties of vegetable marrows, squash, cucumbers, 

 and asparagus, the latter generally small and woody. In the 

 flower-garden are dahlias, marigolds, sunflowers, China roses, 

 lupines, mignonette, larkspurs, rose-campions, Oenotheras, hearts- 

 ease, all thriving tolerably if protected from the rain, but it 

 is better to keep them back till the following month. 



There is little native cultivation carried on. Rice and other 

 cerealia are in ear above 7000 feet, and maize is in flower just 

 below that. 



Animal life swarms in this month, especially insects. Cicadas 

 and glow-worms ascend above 8000 feet. Libellulce, Tipulce, 

 Cynthia cardui, and Papilio Machaon are very frequent at 

 6000 to 10,000 feet. Mosquitoes in myriads and countless 

 leeches, with sandflies, swarm at 6000, and ascend to 8000 feet, 

 the leeches and sandflies to 12,000. Swampy places become 

 feverish even at 6000 feet. 



Second, or Middle Region. — Above 9000 feet vegetation is 

 also in its prime, from the abundance of Compositce which adorn 

 the skirts of the woods and open places, especially beautiful 

 senecios, thistles, Mulgedium, Aplotaxis, Dolomiaa, Ligu- 

 laria, and Saussurea, Callimeris and abundance of Erigeron, 

 Doronicum, Clematis blossoms freely. Gentians, Halenia, 

 Ophelia, &c., are all in bloom, with the most of the Umhel- 

 lifera-. Saxifrages form masses of golden blossoms at 12,000 

 to 13,000 feet, mixed with Cyananthus, Codonopsis, Scrophu- 

 laria, Polygona, Fumaria, and Corydalis, Oxyria, Primula 

 denticulatu. Salvia, Delphinia, tall aconites, terrestrial Orchi- 

 dece, Lilium Thomsoni, Verbascum, and many other European 

 genera. 



Third, or Arctic Zone. — Some beautiful primulas are still 

 only in flower, near the snow, at 15,000 feet, with many species 

 of Corydalis, Nardostachys, Chrysosplenium, Menziesia, Sedu, 

 Saussurea, Parnassia, yellow Drabas, and Androsaceee, at the 

 southern passes, which, being in a more rainy climate, are 

 backwarder. In the northern or drier parts, again, Artemisice 

 appear, with Delphinium Brunonis, various Cyananthi, Vero- 



