between Takoo and Peking, North China. 325 



is a small custom- or toll-house here for the purpose of levying 

 duties on goods reshipped from the lower on to the upper portion 

 of the canal. The canal was reported to run through and round 

 Peking ; but it was found to do nothing of the kind, it being 

 again dammed on its approach to that city. The banks of this 

 almost stagnant piece of water are densely clothed here and there 

 with rushes and high grass, which afford skulking-places to many 

 a freshwater-frequenting bird. 



On the north of Peking there is a large open space of gi'ound 

 beyond the Russian cemetery, called the parade ground, where the 

 Chinese troops were said to exercise. Beyond this, again, stood 

 several Lama temples abounding in lofty trees, the haunts of many 

 of the Crow- tribe: and the Imperial grounds inside of Peking, with 

 their gardens densely planted with trees, were further favourite 

 resorts. We cannot allude to the parks of the Summer Palace, 

 with their lakes and fine groves of timber, wdthout making the soul 

 of the naturalist long for a year's ramble at least in these lovely 

 bird-frequented spots. But the follower of an army suffers under 

 great disadvantages. He is at all times interdicted from shooting 

 within the precincts of the camp, and as soldiers always choose 

 sylvan spots for their encampment, if the camp be a large one, 

 he finds every grove monopolized by the army, and unless he 

 travels miles away in a dangerous country, has little prospect 

 of procuring much. With such a treacherous race as the Chinese 

 one never knew when it was peace, and so the constant sounds of 

 guns miles from the camp were not at all unlikely to alarm the 

 outposts. M. Zill, an amateur naturalist in the French camp, 

 found the same difficulties there, and being dressed in private 

 costume he was held in greater restraint by the French soldiery 

 than one in uniform would have been. On our return march 

 the cold presented many obstacles. I merely make the above 

 remarks in case any one looking over the following list might 

 object to my want of activity, forgetting the difficulties I had 

 to contend with. I procured the skins of some fine Deer in the 

 Summer Palace Park, which, together with a few other mammals 

 and a few reptiles, have been forwarded to the Zoological Society 

 of London for determination. The plants I collected I have pre- 

 sented to Dr. IL T. Hance, H.M. Vicc-Consul at Whampoa, well 



