88 COLLECTING LABV^ 



overtake me, and on coming up found that it contained 

 a Mr. George, of Streathara, who was travelhng for a 

 mercantile firm down the river. Hearing that Chung- 

 king was about to be opened to Enghsh traders, he had 

 come uj) with the intention of being first in the field if 

 possible. At Ichang he had heard of my departure, 

 and had pushed on with all speed hoping to overtake 

 me, and we now travelled on in company. The ther- 

 mometer to-day was 80°. 



April 19. — A start was made at daylight this 

 morning, and a beautiful country passed through, the 

 vegetation being very rich. I collected a number of 

 larvoe from the trunks of a species of poplar, and got a 

 splendid series. They, unfortunately for me, were of 

 the hairy species, and irritated the skin very much. I 

 applied ammonia with a good result, but did not get 

 much sleep at night. The worst of it was, that in 

 changing to pupas, all the hairs were shed and were 

 blown about the cabin, getting into the sheets and 

 every available spot, the consequence being that for 

 some weeks we were liable to be stung. I also got 

 some Coleoptera of the family Cicindela, an interesting 

 class of sand beetle. 



April 20. — Left with a light fair wind in the morn- 

 .ing, and made fifty li, anchoring for the night forty li 

 from Chung-king, which place I hope to reach to- 



