48 PHEASANTS 
A small species of deer is found in the rocky parts 
of the forest, which are very difficult of access. They 
are far from being common, but on one occasion a 
specimen was brought in alive, which I purchased. 
Unfortunately, I failed to keep it for long. 
Porcupines are common, living among the rocks, 
but being ‘nocturnal in their habits are not often seen. 
Their quills may be frequently picked up, and numbers 
were brought in by my collectors. I also obtained a 
young specimen alive, and sent it to Mr. Montgomery 
at Ichang, where it lived and thrived. 
Golden pheasants were not found near my house, 
but at a place about two days’ journey distant appeared 
to be numerous, as many were brought to me alive, 
having been snared by the leg. The common and 
Reeves’ pheasants were plentiful where I lived, and I 
occasionally shot them to vary my diet of Indian corn- 
cake, but being out of season they were not very pala- 
table. These also were caught by the natives in snares. 
I noticed a species of woodcock here, but it was not by 
any means common. 
The poppy is cultivated in the valleys for the pro- 
duction of opium, which is used principally to barter 
for goods brought from the towns. 
In May and June the cuckoo may be heard, remind- 
ing one of home, and the air is loaded with the fragrance 
