A VI-FA UNA. 263 



like, and its height from the ground not above 

 twelve inches. 



The herbaceous plants diminish in variety, and 

 the clay of the soil becomes more bare as we ascend. 

 At the very summit of the alpine zone, the com- 

 monest plants are the Polygonum^ Sausszirea pygmcsa, 

 and a kind of Hesperis. 



Indeed the alpine meadow-land does not shine 

 in flowers. The breath of the neighbouring deserts 

 exercises a withering influence over the vegetation 

 in all parts of these mountains, which are far more 

 deficient than those of Kan-su or even than the 

 Munni-ula, yet resembling the former rather than 

 the latter. 



The fauna of the Ala-shan can boast neither 

 number nor variety ; such as it is I have given it in 

 Volume I., Chapter VI. Birds are few, even in sum- 

 mer ; besides those previously mentioned, I found 

 most commonly at this season : the bullfinch {Py7^- 

 rhula erythrina), two kinds of carpodacus, the swift 

 {Cypselus leiicopygiis), mountain swallows {Hirtmdo 

 rupestris and H. lagopodd), the cuckoo {Cuculus 

 canorus), the bunting, redstarts {RiUicilla nov. sp., 

 and another), the PJiyllopnciiste, and the stone-thrush 

 {Petrocincla saxatilis). There are neither pheasants 

 nor Avoodpeckers. 



The scarcity of birds in these mountains makes 

 them mournful even in summer Avhen all nature is 

 stirring ; no joyful notes enliven the gloomy forests 

 or beetling cliffs. Only an occasional song may be 

 heard in the early morning or late evening ; in the 



