320 Mr. J. D. de La Touclie on 



bengahnsis) out of the long grass and shot the bird, much 

 to the delight of our new friends. 



We went home slowly, carefully searching the base of the 

 hills ; but beyond a flock of Grey-headed Mountain Bulbul 

 {Spizixus cinereicapillus) , that were flying on the hill out of 

 reach, and a small Short-tailed Bush- Warbler {Horornis 

 squameiceps) , I did not notice any interesting birds. The 

 latter was hopping about from twig to twig, uttering a ticking 

 note, something like that of the Cettias. 



I made arrangements that evening for a visit to the forest 

 next day, and distributed powder and shot to the hunters who 

 were to accompany me. 



November 13th. Fine, sky overcast in afternoon. I started 

 before dawn with Ignacio, whose wallet, a strong small- 

 meshed net, was loaded with cartridges, a little rice and tea 

 for the midday meal, and the usual collecting paraphernalia. 

 Two of the hunters followed, and on getting to the foot of 

 the Capiang Hill we were joined by the two others. We 

 had a stifi" climb to the forest ; there is only grass or low 

 jungle on the slope, except in some ravines, where the devas- 

 tating Chinaman has allowed the trees to grow undisturbed. 

 We saw a couple of Dendrocitta formosa near the summit of 

 the hill, and these were the only birds identified, whatever 

 birds there were remaining securely hidden in the jungle and 

 long grass. 



After picking our way through the sword-grass jungle 

 which skirts the forest along the crest of the hill, we entered 

 the woods, and climbing over fallen trees, pushing over 

 giant ferns, or struggling through a varied undergrowth, we 

 went down the mountain. The ground was carpeted in 

 many places with begonias bearing large pink blossoms. 

 Climbers and creepers of many kinds hung suspended in 

 festoons to the trees_, many of them supporting huge bird's- 

 nest ferns, which swung above our heads or found a more 

 secure position in the forks of trees. 



In the shady ravines groups of tall tree-ferns raised their 

 graceful crowns nearly to the level of the smaller forest- 

 growth. The moment I had penetrated into the forest I 



