18G PHASIANUS DECOLLATUS 



been formed by the continued incrustation of the 

 minerals contained in the water, the largest being about 

 fifteen feet high, and the other two slightly less. The 

 water issuing from them is very hot, and has a very 

 offensive odour, resembling decaying sea-weed. The 

 three springs unite and form a stream, which runs 

 through the valley, a black slime accumulating on its 

 edges in which green aquatic plants grow even when 

 the water is still quite warm. The king has a wooden 

 bath built round with stones here, and it is filled by 

 means of a bamboo pipe leading to the top of one of 

 the cones. 



Starting early the next morning (May 16) the ascent 

 became more steep, and the stunted vegetation and 

 scarcity of even pines soon showed, if there were 

 no other indications, that a high elevation was being 

 reached. Small grassy plateaux, however, were frequent, 

 and the Tibetan pheasant [Phasianus decollatus) appeared 

 to be very common. I shot several, and noticed also 

 that a species of Ithaginis was ver}- common, as they 

 were constantly running across the path. They are, 

 however, of not much use for food, being very tough 

 and having an unpleasantly strong flavour. Just before 

 reaching the summit of the pass I noticed a very beau- 

 tiful dwarf blue iris, and a little higher up I found 

 patches of snow. It was bitterly cold, and on reaching-^ 



