1871.] W. T. Blanford— Journey through Sihkim. 397 



Ixidi and Yuhince. Lanius tephrodornis was common in the open 

 glades, coming, I think, from beyond the mountains, but I am not 

 certain. However, a few weeks later all had gone down to a lower 

 level. One or two migratory birds were beginning to make their 

 appearance ; e. g. Pratincola indica, which I first saw on the 9th, and 

 Kestrels. 



I could only find one landshell, a llacrochlamys, and of that but 

 3 or 4 specimens, all of which had closed the mouths of their 

 shells with an epiphragm, and, I suppose, had retired for the 

 winter. Indeed the nights were slightly frosty when clear, which they 

 rarely were ; usually it rained more or less every day. One 

 morning was very fine, and there was a beautiful view of the snow 

 peaks up the valley and those around the Tankra-la, on which fresh 

 snow had fallen, but long before midday heavy clouds came up 

 the valley and concealed everything. 



Mammals were scarce. There were some bears, and I frequently 

 saw their fresh tracks on the hill sides, where they had torn up the 

 turf to get at roots and grubs. The species was doubtless Ursus 

 tibetanus. There were a few goral on the steep hill sides above the 

 houses in which we were living, and serow (Nemorhcedus oubalinus) 

 in the fir forests, but we only saw the tracks of the latter. A 

 langur monkey (Presbytes schistaceus) was not rare, and two or three 

 were shot by a shikari of Elwes's who had been two months in 

 Lachung, but had not collected much. We heard of Ailurus fulgens 

 but did not see it. 



Butterflies were numerous on the grassy banks, and appeared 

 whenever the sun shone, the most conspicuous being Papilio 

 Machaon, Satyrus Padma, and Argynnis Isscea. 



September I lth, I determined to go up the valley to Yeomatong 

 and there await Elwes's return from the Tankra. Gruruk had a 

 severe attack of fever, I therefore left him to come on with Elwes. 

 We had discharged several of our coolies, and the useless 

 Nipalese duffadar, and by giving the men meat as part of their 

 rations, we had sufficient rice to last us for about 20 days, after 

 which we hoped to get a fresh supply from the Tista valley. 



A pony was brought for me, on which I rode part of the 

 distance. The roads were much better than in the low regions, but 



