LEAVE FOR MO-SI-MIEN 183 
and the flower stem over four feet high and at least 
four inches in diameter. The flowers were yellow and 
about two inches across. 
On the 13th I returned to Ta-tsien-lu and then 
prepared for a journey to Mo-si-mien, where I intended 
to stay, if possible, for the summer. I found time 
to search for the larve of Parnassius imperator and got: 
about twenty, and one pupa. The larva is found on 
a species of umbelliferous plant and is of a dark slate 
colour, with ten orange spots on each side, each spot 
with a black rim. It is covered with short grey hairs, 
and when touched curls itself into a ring. Its length 
is 18 inch. The pupa is brown, and is found attached 
by a silk web to the under surface of stones. 
On May 15, having made all arrangements, I left 
Ta-tsien-lu for the neighbourhood of Mo-si-mien, having 
fourteen coolies carrying my apparatus and a tent. 
Leaving the town by the south gate, the road passes up 
a valley, the west side of which is covered with pine 
forest and is strictly preserved by the king. Many 
musk deer are trapped in it, and the sale of the musk 
they yield forms a considerable part of his income. 
He allows no timber to be cut in it. Further on 
the mountains are rocky and barren, or nearly so. 
At a distance of about twenty li from Ta-tsien-lu 
the palace of the local king is situated. This is a large, 
