325 
between Takoo and Peking, North China. 
is a small custom- or toll-house here for the purpose of levying 
duties on goods reshipped from the lower on to the upper portion 
of the canal. The canal was reported to run through and round 
Peking; but it was found to do nothing of the kind, it being 
again dammed on its approach to that city. The banks of this 
almost stagnant piece of water are densely clothed here and there 
with rushes and high grass, which afford skulking-places to many 
a freshwater-frequenting bird. 
On the north of Peking there is a large open space of ground 
beyond the Russian cemetery, called the parade ground, where the 
Chinese troops were said to exercise. Beyond this, again, stood 
several Lama temples abounding in lofty trees, the haunts of many 
of the Crow-tribe: and the Imperial grounds inside of Peking, with 
their gardens densely planted with trees, were further favourite 
resorts. We cannot allude to the parks of the Summer Palace, 
with their lakes and fine groves of timber, without making the soul 
of the naturalist long for a year's ramble at least in these lovely 
bird-frequented spots. But the follower of an army suffers under 
great disadvantages. He is at all times interdicted from shooting 
within the precincts of the camp, and as soldiers always choose 
sylvan spots for their encampment, if the camp be a large one, 
he finds every grove monopolized by the army, and unless he 
travels miles away in a dangerous country, has little prospect 
of procuring much. With such a treacherous race as the Chinese 
one never knew when it was peace, and so the constant sounds of 
guns miles from the camp were not at all unlikely to alarm the 
outposts. M. Zill, an amateur naturalist in the French camp, 
found the same difficulties there, and being dressed in private 
costume he was held in greater restraint by the French soldiery 
than one in uniform would have been. On our return march 
the cold presented many obstacles. I merely make the above 
remarks in case any one looking over the following list might 
object to my want of activity, forgetting the difficulties I had 
to contend with. I procured the skins of some fine Deer in the 
Summer Palace Park, which, together with a few other mammals 
and a few reptiles, have been forwarded to the Zoological Society 
of London for determination. The plants I collected I have pre¬ 
sented to Dr. H. T. Hance, H.M. Vice-Consul at Whampoa, well 
