MAMMAL SURVEY OF INDIA, BURMA AND CEYLON. 469 



the crow flies. From Darjeeling northwards the whole country is 

 a, confused network of valleys and hills, the latter ever growing 

 higher, up to Kinchingunga with its 28,000 feet altitude, and nest 

 ■of glaciers. 



The collecting work was carried on for the most part northwards 

 ^long the course of the Tista River but explorations were also made 

 to the Nepal border at Tonglu, Sukiapokhri and to the Bhutan 

 border at the Jelap La. The most northerly point reached was 

 Thangu (12,000'-1 3,000' ) in the valley of the Lachen River, one 

 •of the early tributaries of the Tista. 



The following are details of the places visited, taken from Mr. 

 Crump's notes : — 



" Starting from Gangtok (the capital of Sikkim) a charming 

 station situated on the western face of a long ridge and command- 

 ing an extensive view of the Kinchingunga snow range, I ascended 

 from 6,000 to 12,800 feet via Karponang and Changu to Kapup, 

 returning via Grnatong, Sedonchen, Rongli and Payong. 



Kapup. — Situated within a few miles of the Jelap La which 

 •crosses into the Chumbi Yallej^, lies on a large open saddle, connect- 

 ing peaks on the Gnatong side with those forming the boundary 

 between Sikkim and Chumbi. The sterile rockstrewn slopes are 

 •dotted with patches of rhododendron in the more sheltered places, 

 and a large variety of Alpine growths give life and colour to the 

 -otherwise dreary scene. The vista of distant peaks is exceedingly 

 grand but serves rather to accentuate the deserted appearance of one's 

 immediate surroundings. On one side of the saddle is a fine lake, 

 forming the source of the Jaldaka River, which flows towards Bhutan. 

 The upper limit of ti-ees is some distance below Kapup, but in valleys 

 well sheltered from the searching winds which sweep across these 

 heights, tall conifers do well up to an elevation of 12,000 fe^^- 

 During my visit in October the ground was frost bound, and several 

 falls of snow were experienced. 



Gnatong. — From Kapup the distance to this valley is five miles 

 over a pass followed b}^ a descent to 12,300 feet. The conditions 

 are similar to those at Kapup except that the valley, being sheltered 

 by a high ridge to the north, vegetation is more prolific and the 

 Tipper line of forest is at a higher elevation. Rhododendrons and 

 birches are abundant and the conifers appear to be very robust, 

 while below 12,000 feet a thick undergrowth of bamboo begins to 

 appear. 



Sedonchen. — From Gnatong the road is fairly level for four miles, 

 •after which there is a drop of about 5,000 feet in five miles. 

 Sedonchen is a small village at an elevation of about 7,000 feet, 

 surrounded by a few fields in which buck wheat is grown. 



The slopes are all exceedingly steep and clothed with heavj" 

 forest, including pine, oak, maple, walnut, and any quantity of 



