42G Notes, chiefly Botanical, made during an [May, 



jungle of bamboo and figs* of several species. Indeed the general 

 prevalence of these and their allies, the nettles, is a remarkable feature 

 in the botany of the Sikkim Himalaya, up to nearly 10,000 ft. Of 

 figs there were here 5 species, some bearing eatable fruit of enormous 

 size and very palateable, others with the fruit small and borne on pros- 

 trate creeping leafless branches, which spring from the root of the tree 

 and creep along the ground. The wild Mulberry is a common small 

 tree in these situations, with three species of nettle, f several of Bcehme- 

 ria,% Procris, Trophis, Celt is and Conocephalus. Of shrubs are Randia, 

 Gardenia, and Rondeletia, Citrus, Rotlera and other Euphorbiacece, 

 some Sapindacece and Terehinthace.ee. Scitaminece were not above 

 ground, grasses are rare, and indeed most monocotyledonous plants at 

 this season. Of terrestrial Orchidece there are several species, Dendro- 

 bium takes the place in the valleys of Coelagyne, the common epiphy- 

 tical genus at Darjiling. 



A troublesome Dipterous insect swarms on the banks of the stream, 

 it is very small and black, floating like a speck before the eye. The 

 bite of this (the " Peepsa") leaves a small spot of extravasated blood 

 under the cuticle, very irritating if not opened. 



Temperature of the water (the Little Rungeet river) 69° at 4 p. m., 

 and of the air 75°. 



Crossing the Little Rungeet we ascended another steep spur from the 

 base of Tonglo, and camped. 



Night calm and clear, with a little cirrus, but no dew formed. A 

 Thermometer sunk 2 feet in rich vegetable mould stood at 78° two hours 

 after it was lowered, and the same after ten hours interval on the follow- 

 ing morning. This probably indicates the mean temperature of the 

 month at that spot, where, however, the dark color of the exposed loose 

 soil must raise the temperature considerably. 



May 20th. — Temperature at sunrise 67° ; morning bright, clear over- 

 head, but the mountains looked threatening. Darjiling perched on a 

 ridge 5000 ft. above us, has a singular appearance. Descended from the 



* One species of this very tropical genus ascends almost to 9000 ft. on the outer 

 range of Sikkim. 



f Of two of these cloth is made, and of a third cordage. The tops of two are 

 eaten, as are several species of Procris? 



X Two species yield a fibre, one the " Poa," 



