LEAVE FOlt MO-SI-MIEN 183 



and the flower stem over four feet lii<»h and at least 

 four inches in diameter. The flowers were yellow and 

 about two inches across. 



On the loth I returned to Ta-tsien-lu and then 

 prepared for a journey to Mo-si-mien, w^here I intended 

 to stay, if possible, for the summer. I found time 

 to search for the larva? of Parnassius imperator and got 

 about twenty, and one pupa. The larva is found on 

 a species of umbelliferous plant and is of a dark slate 

 colour, with ten orange spots on each side, each spot 

 with a black rim. It is covered wdth short grey hairs^ 

 and when touched curls itself into a ring. Its length 

 is If inch. The pupa is brown, and is found attached 

 by a silk web to the under surface of stones. 



On May 15, having made all arrangements, I left 

 Ta-tsien-lu for the neighbourhood of Mo-si-mien, having 

 fourteen coolies carrying my apparatus and a tent. 

 Leaving the town by the south gate, the road passes up 

 a valley, the west side of which is covered with pine 

 forest and is strictly preserved by the king. Many 

 musk deer are trapped in it, and the sale of the musk 

 they yield forms a considerable part of his income. 

 He allows no timber to be cut in it. Further on 

 the mountains are rocky and barren, or nearly so. 



At a distance of about twenty li from Ta-tsien-lu 

 the palace of the local king is situated. This is a large. 



