178 PI/EJ.S.L\T.S FOR coVEHTS AXD AVIMHES. 



and landed in search of specimens of birds, and tliat day liad 

 tlie LTood foi'tnne to see, f^ir tlie first time, tlie r.r.sn-nhjr 

 pheasant. Tlie province Idza, at the southern extremity of 

 which the port of Snnoda is situated, forurs a, hnig- neck of 

 hind extending hmn the island of Ni])h(jn, in a. southerly 

 dii'ectidii, and is throne'hout ninuutainous, suine oF the 

 mountains being' from 4UU'l to 50(J() feet high. The valle\s 

 are highly (ailtivated, jircsenting in (lie spiing a most 

 hixnrious landscape. The tops(jf the mountains and hills ari' 

 111 some ]:)laces composed of Ijari'cn rocks, and in otliers 

 covered with grass and shrulis, ]irodacing an abundance of 

 small berries. Between those higher regions and the fields 

 below the slejies are c<iV(>re(l with woods, lia^'ing, for the 

 yreafer ]")ai't, such thick undergrowth that it is scareelv 

 ]i()ssilde to jjenetrate them. Following the beautiful vallev, 

 at the outlet of which the town of Simoda stands, for aliont 

 iour miles, 1 came to a place where tlit^ Simoda creek divides 

 into two firanclu's. Selecting the eastt'rn branch, I srion left 

 tiohls and houses Ijehind me, and, ascending through a. little 

 gully, i emerged from the woods into the Ijarren region. It 

 was yet early in the morning; clouds envelojied the peaks 

 and tops of the hills ; the fitdds and woods were silent, and 

 the distant sound of the surf fr(jm the seashore far below 

 rather increased than lessened the impression of deei) solitude 

 made upon me liy the strange scenery ar(jund. 



" The walk and ascent had fatigued me somewhat ; I had 

 laid down my gun and game-bag, and was just stooin'iiL;' to 

 drink from a little sjiring that trickled from ,i rock, when, not 

 ten yards From me, a large pheasant arose with loud riistliiiL!' 

 noise, and before j had i ecoyered my gun he jiad disa]-)]ieared 

 o\-er the brow oF a hilL I felt somewliat ashamed for allowing- 

 myself thus to lie taken s(_i com]iletely abaek ; but, iioticin-- 

 the direclion in which he had gtnie, I ]n-oeeeded more 

 carefully in pursuit. A small stretch of talile-land. which 

 J soon reached, was covi'red with short grass and soaie little 

 clusters oF shrubs, with scattered fra<j'meiits of riud^s ; and as 



