Mr. P. L, Sclater on Pere David's Travels in China. 169 



a day's journey from Pere David's habitation ; and he ascended 

 the principal summit, which he calculated to be at an elevation 

 of about 5000 metres, or 15000 feet. Thence, on the north 

 and south-west, large masses of snow-clad mountains were 

 visible. Although the centre of Moupin lies between the 

 31st and 32nd degree of latitude north, the winter is severe in 

 the valley, and the ice and snow lasted for several months. 

 Besides, all the year round there were showers of rain or snow, 

 and frequent mists. The mountains are densely wooded up 

 to an elevation of 9000 or 10,000 feet. The forest consists 

 principally of pines and cedars. Rhododendrons abound, no 

 less than sixteen different species being found, some of which 

 attain a considerable size. Magnolias and several sorts of 

 Laurus are also met with. The flora generally is stated to 

 be very rich. In these forests the many remarkable species 

 of mammals were discovered which M. Alphonse Milne-Ed- 

 wards has lately described from Pere David's collection. 

 Amongst them the most novel are the Rhinopithecus roxel- 

 latKB, a monkey which is found in the highest forests, and the 

 extraordinary jEluropus melanoleucus, which inhabits the same 

 districts. In his report, Pere David gives a list of no less 

 than 110 species of mammals of which he obtained specimens, 

 either in Moupin, or in the adjourning districts north of the 

 Yang-tze. Of these, not less than 40 were new to science. 



Of the birds of Moupin, Pere David has given a nominal 

 list in a previous number of the Bulletin*. 



In the report before us he mentions that his list embraces 

 469 species, of which 50 were new to science, and about 90 

 others new to the fauna of China. The splendid new Monaul, 

 Lophophorus I'huysi, frequents the open prairies above the 

 forest-region at an elevation of 12,000 feet, but is not very 

 numerous. 



Tetraophasis obscurus and Ithaginis geoffroyi do not occur 

 out of the forests, whilst Pucrasia xanthospila is found in them 

 and also in the mountains above. The Amherst's Pheasant 

 [Thaumalea amherstia) inhabits the bamboo-thickets, at an ele- 



* •• Catalogue des Oiseaux de Chine observes dans la partie septentri-« 

 onale de I'Empire &c.," Nouv. Arch. d. Mus. vii. Bull. p. 1. 



