130 ]\Ir. C. Ingram — Oniiflwloyical 



early in the season for these liigher districts, and I found 

 that better results were obtained by remaining in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Subashiri itself, which, roughly speaking, is not 

 more than 2300 ft. above the sea-level. 



Ri^^ing 12,370 ft. from Suruga Bay, the volcano of 

 Fujiyama is so vast compared with the adjoining mountains 

 that it might almost be described as an isolated peak. 

 Koughly conical in shape, from base nearly to summit, its 

 sides ascend with a gentle, sweeping gradient ; these, up to 

 1500 ft. or more, are richly cultivated and furnish crops of 

 rice and other cereals. The cultivated area is followed in 

 turn by extensive tracts of rough, coarse grass, which run 

 up and into the zone of forest-growth. The forest itself 

 reaches to about five or six thousand feet, and considerably 

 more on the western slope. Subashiri is situated at the 

 edge of the forest and the majority of its inhabitants are 

 either wood-cutters or charcoal-burners. The village, there- 

 fore, forms a very desirable centre for ornithological work, 

 commanding, as it does, so many types of country and 

 different elevations. 



As the forest is periodically cut down and then planted 

 fresh, in many parts the trees are young aud scattered ; and 

 it was in these localities that I found bird-life most abundant, 

 although "Woodpeckers, Tits, and Creepers always shewed a 

 preference for the older timber. Of course, Larks, Snipes, and 

 many other species were only to be encountered on the open 

 wastes of grass, while Pheasants, Shrikes, and Buntings were 

 commonest in the scrub that fringed the woodlands. By the 

 first days of June these latter districts became surpassingly 

 beautiful, for the azalea [Azalea mollis) — which constitutes the 

 greater part of this scrub — then came into flower and covered 

 many acres of land with its bright orange-pink blossom. 



Before I reached Subashiri nearly all the migrants {with 

 the exception of the Cuckoos and perhaps the Swifts) had 

 taken up their summer-quarters, and I am therefore unable 

 to supply any dates of the spnng arrival of Japanese birds ; 

 and this is somewhat disappointing, as so very little is at 

 present known of their movements. On the whole, however, 



