vi PREFACE 



interest with respect to the mammals and birds of the 

 valley, while in the last chapter I have endeavoured 

 to describe in simple language the essential features 

 of its rocky structure and the sequence of changes 

 through which it has passed in the long lapse of 

 geological time. 



My interest has been chiefly directed towards the 

 habits of animals, especially in so far as they relate 

 to the psychology of instinct. The book contains 

 nothing of a pure systematic nature. My object is 

 to give some impression of the more striking mani- 

 festations of life that are to be seen in a Himalayan 

 valley. So many of my observations are concerned 

 with insects and other humble forms that it may be 

 thought I have paid them undue attention when com- 

 pared with my record of the mammals and birds. 

 But it needs only the slightest insight to the works 

 of Nature to see how wonderful she is even in her 

 very simplest types. 



I have had drawings made of those species to which 

 I have given most attention, and trust that these will 

 add interest to the subject matter of the text. The 

 few photographs of scenery which I have introduced 

 do not in all cases bear directly on the chapters in 

 which they appear. Their object is to give the 

 reader some impression of the rugged features of the 

 Himalaya. 



I cannot expect that my record is likely to interest 

 any but those who have a special taste for Natural 

 History, and have bestowed some little observation 

 on it. Nevertheless I have endeavoured to express 

 myself in untechnical language, confident that a sub- 

 ject, because it is intelligible, is none the less scientific 



