SP/^/N(J LV TSAWAM. 225 



and on the 17th February we saw the first insects 

 on the Tibetan side of the Burkhan Buddha. On 

 our outward journey to the Murui-ussu the weather 

 had been fine, and in the daytime warm, as far as 

 the Shuga range, after crossing which and the Uyan- 

 Karza rivulet, it became very cold and storm)-. 



Spring in Tsaidam begins early and is of a trul)' 

 continental character. In the end of February the 

 frosts at night still carried the cold down to — 4° 

 Fahr., whilst in the day the temperature in the shade 

 was 59° Fahr., and the ice began rapidly thawing 

 under the influence of the sun ; on the 2 2d of the 

 month the first to appear among migratory birds 

 was the widgeon, followed on the 25th by the 

 mallard ; ^ and the day after the goosander i^Mcrgus 

 tncrganser), the red-breasted thrush {Turdus ruji- 

 collis), and swans (Cygmis musicits) arrived : in the 

 mornings were heard the notes of small birds and 

 the call of the pheasant ; in fact, Spring asserted 

 her right to reign. 



But all these harbin^jers of the beneficent season 

 were again suddenly checked by the recurrence of 

 cold weather, accompanied by snow,^ and by gales 

 of wind, generally from the west, filling the air with 

 clouds of fine dust raised from the salt marshes, 

 which hung like vapour over everything long after 

 the storm had subsided. Frosts and cold winds, too, 



' This duck sometimes winters in Tsaidam in the unfrozen marshes 

 fed by springs. 



''■ In the latter end of February snow fell in Tsaidam (in thick flakes, 

 not in dry fine dust as in Tibet) four times, and although covering the 

 ground an inch or t\\ о in thickness, soon thawed in the sun. 



VOL. II. Q 



