499 
3862 .] Notes of a trip from Simla to the Spiti Valley. 
withstanding the lowness of the temperature, the larvae of some insect 
were numerous in it, and what seemed an aquatic acarus or tick, and 
a small species of leech, rather less than an inch in length. These 
quick-scented animals soon found out and attached themselves to 
some garbage of a sheep, which my servants had left in the water, 
and I subsequently found these animals to abound in running water 
both in Bissahir and Spiti. Leeches are known to be one cause of 
cattle epidemics, especially in excessively wet seasons, as this has been, 
and it would he interesting to ascertain, by the dissection of cattle 
which have died of epidemic disease, if they are infested internally 
by these rapacious creatures ; as, if the disease can be traced to this 
cause, a remedy might easily be applied by carefully debarring the 
cattle from all access to streams containing them. I myself had no 
opportunity, as the epidemic among the cattle had occurred in the 
spring, and most of the survivors had been driven up the mountains to 
escape its effects. 
29 th, Sangnam .—Early in the morning I was awakened by the 
flight over my tent of many noisy birds, which I afterwards ascertain¬ 
ed to be red-legged crows. These birds are social without being gre¬ 
garious, and when feeding on the hill side, keep together in small 
companies, but without forming flocks. Their food consists of wire- 
worms and other insects, which they search for under stones and 
among tufts of grass, but they are usually very wary, and difficult 
to approach within range. This is evidently an instinct or caution 
peculiar to the bird. It cannot be attributed to the result of experi¬ 
ence, as they have no reason to regard man as their enemy, being 
unmolested and rarely in their lives hearing the report of a gun. After 
quitting camp, commenced the ascent of the Ranang pass, J4361 feet, 
the ascent being gradual and easy. From the summit a fine view is 
obtained of the Sangnam valley and the hills across the Phanam river, 
on the opposite bank of which Sangnam is situated, and in the far 
distance the snowy peaks surrounding the Manirang pass, towering 
up to 21845 ft. The descent to Sangnam is very abrupt, and the river 
is crossed by a wooden bridge a little above the village. A good 
breadth of land was under cultivation along the river above the village, 
and beans were being gathered in, though not quite ripe. Apricots 
were the only fruit-trees I remarked, and their fruit was also being- 
gathered. Flour was only five seers per rupee, or one seer dearer 
3 t 2 
