274 EXTliACTS FROM JOUENAL. 



llth. — The rutting season is, I think, now over. 

 Thermometer 55°. 



1 Uh. — Hot and sultry. Thermometer : minimum, 

 57° ; maximum, 72°. Rain. Returned to Kobe. 



nth. — The black-headed gull appeared to-day in 

 complete winter plumage. Bullfinches very abundant 

 on the hills. I can see no difference between this bird 

 and our own, except in the amount of red being less in 

 the Japanese bird, which only extends as far as the 

 throat, and not to the breast : but in habits, note, and 

 size they seem to be identical. 



2lst. — Thermometer 46°. At the Moon temple, 

 where I have been for three days, there was ice this 

 morning. Height above the sea, 2500 feet. It is a 

 most charming place, and there are plenty of deer in the 

 wood which surrounds the temple. Shot a good stag 

 to-day. I had left the temple, meaning to shoot my 

 way home. I knew every likely cover and the whole 

 country well. As I was walking along the sharp ridge 

 of a very steep line of hiUs, I saw two hinds and a stag 

 on the opposite side of the valley. They appeared to 

 move very quietly, and not as if they had been fright- 

 ened. So, retracing my steps for half a mile, I went 

 down the centre of the valley, and sent my man and 

 dog round to where I first saw the deer. I reached 



