viii A NATURALIST IN WESTERN CHINA 



during the Boxer outbreak and the Russo-Japanese 

 War, and visited places shortty before or after anti- 

 foreign riots, but never experienced any incivility 

 meriting the name. I engaged and trained as collectors 

 a number of Chinese peasants, who served me faithfully 

 throughout my journeys, and we parted with genuine 

 regrets. At the commencement of my travels in 

 China, Mr. Augustine Henry, now Professor of Forestry 

 at Dublin, imparted to me much sound advice which 

 I did my utmost to follow. To this gentleman and 

 to the devoted services of my Chinese collectors must 

 be largely attributed the results of my work in China. 



It is exceedingly pleasant to recall the kindly 

 acts and hospitality of the many people I have been 

 privileged to meet during my wanderings. Exigencies 

 of space forbid the mention of names but do not affect 

 my sincere appreciation. But for meeting them 

 one's life would have been very much the poorer 

 and lonelier. To my friend, W. J. Tutcher of Hong- 

 Kong, this book in part owes its inception, and to 

 another friend, J. Hutson Edgar, I am indebted for 

 much information concerning the peculiar customs of 

 the Thibetans and other non-Chinese races. 



In the preparation of this work, I have received 

 much encouragement from Professor Charles S. 

 Sargent, who has also contributed an introduction of 

 the greatest value. To my friend Herman Spooner 

 I am indebted for invaluable criticisms of the manu- 

 script. To Walter R. Zappey, my associate on the 

 third expedition, I owe much for assistance in details 

 concerning the colours and measurements of the game- 

 birds and mammals. 



Two or three of the chapters I first published in 

 the Gardeners' Chronicle during 1905-6, and that on 

 insect white-wax in the Chemist and Druggist, 1906, 

 but these have been remodelled to suit present require- 

 ments, and amended and corrected in accordance with 

 increased knowledge. 



With six exceptions, the illustrations are from 



