observed in Switzerland. 159 



formerly took in the management of this Museum^ which is, 

 however, as it stands, a remarkably good specimen of the 

 old-fashioned class, before life-like groups of mounted 

 animals were thought necessary for the instruction or delec- 

 tation of the public. The Neuchatel fauna is particularly 

 well-arranged ; while ia the general collection may be men- 

 tioned Alca impennis, and examples of two species of Mer- 

 ganetta from the rapid streams of the Peruvian and Chilian 

 Andes ; also a specimen of Chen rossi and three of Bernicla 

 ruficoUis, obtained years ago, when examples were to be 

 seen in very fe^v Museums. 



Summer-quarters were found on Chaumont, a spur of the 

 Jura, which rises about 2400 feet above Neuchatel and 

 3850 above sea-level. The ridge is crowned with dense 

 woods of spruce, which gradually become thinner to the 

 eastward, until they end altogether on the top of the Chas- 

 seral (5280 ft.), which is separated from the main Jura by 

 the elevated Val St. Imier, As there are no springs in that 

 range, and consequently very few running streams (the 

 inhabitants being almost dependent on rain-water, of which 

 there is no lack), the Jura is not very rich in species of 

 small birds. In other respects it proved to be an excellent 

 retreat during the summer months, for the climate at Chau- 

 mont, and in the range generally, is less extreme than at the 

 same elevation in the Alps : the view, extending over the 

 lakes of Neuchatel and Morat, and from Mont Blanc to 

 Pilacus, is hardly to be surpassed ; while, except in August, 

 the weather was decidedly good, which was certainly not the 

 case in the Alps. The electric explosion, followed by a 

 tornado, on the 19th of that month was something to be re- 

 membered ; but during the sultry hours which preceded that 

 devastating storm the birds did not drop down dead on our 

 ridge of the Jura (as I learned, from a lady's letter in the 

 'Times,' they did in other parts of that range), or I might 

 have been able to add a few species to my scanty list of 

 Passeres ! 



Descending to Neuchatel early in September, I ran down 

 with Mr. Goll to the Orisons, to get a glimpse of chamois 



N 2 



