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One reason that the officials of Songpan do not want 

 anyone collecting mammals or insects is that they are devout 

 Buddhists and believe in the transmigration of souls. It is 

 about as bad to them to kill an animal, bird, or insect as it 

 would be to kil a human being . However, it is really danger- 

 ous on account of the aborigine brigands to go north or west 

 of Songpan, where, by the way, is the best hunting • 



Ants* There are two small varieties that I have 

 noticed that go up to about 14,000 feet. There is a large 

 red ant found in Szechuen between the altitudes of 6,000 and 

 11,000 ft. The most common large black ant of Szechuen 

 (central) is found below the level of 6,000 feet but not 

 above. Question, do these two ants fight each other so that 

 they can not live in the same territory, or do they simply 

 seek different levels? 



Insects above 7,500 feet often are found under 

 stones but not often in the lower levels in Szechuen. Evi- 

 dently they find under the stones some protection from the 

 cold. 



I did not find the wild small reddish turtle dove 

 that I found at Tatsienln. u 



The escorts are a great problem. Without them the 

 officials will not be responsible for your safety. If you 

 pay them too litt le, they 1 11 report to the magistrate. Some- 

 times they report that you have not paid what you should when 

 you have^ to get the official to give them more money, but it 

 hurts your reputation. 



There is more roughing it on this trip for me than 

 on any previous trip. I have walked every step since leaving 

 Chengtu. I probably will not see another foreigner until I 

 return to Chengtu. I have not eaten cake since leaving Chengtu 

 and the only cookies I have had were some 7 ? tA " A ^ Chinese 

 cookies bought on the street. I eat bread only about one 

 meal a day - can't get any here that is less tough than 

 leather (it is unleavened) . It takes me till late at night 

 sometimes to take care of the specimens caught during the 

 day. 



Ivly Chinese helpers have worked mighty hard on this 

 trip. It is hard on the skinners to walk 20 to 30 miles, then 

 spend part of the night skinning birds. The netter often does 

 not get enough sleep because of catching moths. All these 

 helpers walk all the time unless they are sick. The loyalty 

 of these Chinese helpers and the willingness to work hard will 

 mean much in making this trip a success if it proves a suc- 

 cess. All these helpers I have trained myself. 



