146 PREPARATIONS FOR LEAVING 



boulders may be found, piled together probably by 

 avalanches, and in such a loose way that anybody walk- 

 ing over them might chance to set one moving, and that 

 would most likely set a large number rolling down in a 

 most dangerous way. I saw at least a hundred of the 

 Crossoptilon, many in places where it was impossible to 

 shoot. 



Pere Soulie came up and stayed a day and a night, 

 and on the 14tli we returned to Ta-tsien-lu, and I at 

 once made preparations for departure. My journey 

 there was not originally contemplated, but I saw such 

 an interesting country before me that I resolved, if 

 possible, to return the following year. I had, however, 

 considerable collections at Ta-tien-chih, and these, with 

 what I had collected at Ta-tsien-lu, I was anxious to get 

 together and send home as early as possible. In addi- 

 tion to what I had when I left the former place, I ex- 

 pected to have a large quantity gathered by the collectors 

 I had left behind. 



