PREFACE. 



the flood season. Further west again is the Clear Water River country which 

 demands much more attention than has yet been paid to it. 



In the preface to the first edition was found place for a plea on behalf of 

 the Shanghai Museum. The Honorary Curator, Dr. Arthur Stanley, echoes 

 the plea to-day. He writes me ''for those interested in natural history the 

 houseboat affords endless opportunity. The Shanghai Museum is always glad 

 to receive specimens : animal, vegetable and mineral. To encourage the presenta- 

 tion of specimens and to promote the study of natural history the Museum 

 skins and mounts specimens at a fixed rate, and will name specimens for those 

 desirous of such information. But most of all the Museum wants specimens to 

 add to the already valuable collection. Specimens of mammals, both small and 

 large, of snakes, lizards and tortoises, of the amphibia, of the rarer birds and of 

 all those other objects which appeal to the nature lover and which so frequently 

 come across the path of the observing man." 



The first appeal for specimens met with some small success. May this 

 second appeal be even more fortunate ! That a most interesting field close to 

 our very doors lies waiting to be worked may be learnt by anyone who has 

 enjoyed the bright, instructive chats on Chinese birds and beasts now 

 appearing weekly under the title "Wild Life in China" in the pages of that 

 excellent magazine "The National Review." 



A quite recent addition to the fauna of North China is to be welcomed. 

 This is the tufted deer, shot at Ichang by Mr. A. E. Leatham, one of the 

 Hangchow shooting party mentioned on page 236. The genus ElapJiodus has 

 hitherto been known by only two species, the typical E. cephalopus from Tibet 

 and the perfectly distinct Ningpo deer, called after a well-known old-time 

 resident here, Mr. A. Michie, E. michianus. Mr. Lyddeker of the Natural 

 History Museum, South Kensington, has determined it, and reports that "it 

 has its specific distinctions and has been now named E, ichangensis. It differs 

 from Michie's deer (page 126) in that it is darker and more uniform in colour, 

 has a white tail, smaller antlers, larger tusks, shorter nasals, and more evenly 

 circular preorbital fossa. ' ' 



In conclusion, I have to tender my heartiest thanks to all my earlier 

 contributors to whose informing articles much of the success of the first issue 

 was due. A strange and mournful coincidence is that all four of the writers 

 of the articles on boats in it — all great personal friends — should have passed 

 so quickly away one after another 



How fast has brother followed brother 

 From sunshine to the sunless land 1 



I 



