46 A NATURALIST IN WESTERN CHINA 



neck the ascent is more gradual, and but few crops are grown, 

 as it is nearing the limits of cultivation in these regions. Near 

 some limestone cliffs are two magnificent trees of Maackia, 

 each 60 feet tall and 7 feet in girth. The bark of this tree is 

 smooth, of a light grey colour, and the unfolding leaves are 

 silvery grey. Here, too, are many small trees of the Bladder 

 tree (Staphylca holocarpa) and Peach bushes. These were in full 

 flower, and flitting amongst the flowers and drinking in the 

 honey were many beautiful little sun-birds {Mthopyga dahryi). 

 Rhododendron indicum was left behind at 5500 feet altitude. 



A few hundred yards beyond the limestone cliffs we crossed 

 over at 7000 feet altitude, into Fang Hsien, and traversed a 

 narrow moorland valley clothed with grass and bounded by 

 rounded hills covered with thickets. In this moorland are acres 

 of Astilbe Davidii and A. grandis, with several Senecios and 

 other ornamental herbs. The thickets are composed chiefly of 

 Birch and WiUow, with a few Poplar and Silver Fir, and an 

 occasional flat-leaved Spruce. The vegetation was scarcely in 

 leaf, and it was evident from the appearance of the ground that 

 snow had only just melted away. We flushed a Solitary Snipe 

 and secured a cock pheasant for the larder, but very little 

 life of any sort was visible in these uplands. At the head of 

 this moorland valley we entered a narrow defile and, after 

 skirting the side of a mountain through thickets in which 

 various Maples and Currants were prominent, reached Hung- 

 shih-kou. This is a miserable hut of wood in a half-ruinous 

 condition, kept by a family clothed in rags. It is situated 

 at an altitude of 6300 feet, by the side of a considerable torrent, 

 and is walled in by precipitous, well-wooded mountains. 



At night some of the coolies slept in a loft above the room I 

 occupied, and every movement they made caused dust and dirt 

 to fall over my bed. Oa v, aking in the morning I found myself 

 covered with this filth, and nearly choked with the dust into 

 the bargain. The owner of this hovel is a hunter, and he has 

 shot the Serow of this region, which is known as " Ming-tsen 

 Yang." He had a couple of pairs of horns and a flat skin which 

 we secured, and, judging from this fragmentary material, the 

 beast must be larger than any known species of Serow. (In 

 1907 my associate, Mr. Zappey, made several trips after this 



