Page:Mongolia, the Tangut country, and the solitudes of northern Tibet vol 2 (1876).djvu/114

92 order was represented by a new kind of tree-partridge (Bonasia sp.) larger than ours with darker plumage; the rare Itaginis Geoffroyi, the pheasant (Phasianus nov. sp.), and the tufted species (Crossoptilon auritum), a splendid bird, with plumage of a leaden colour, which had attracted our attention in the Ala-shan mountains.

None of the waterfowl breed in the mountainous region of Kan-su, and birds of passage are rare; we only found one kind of wader (Ibidorhynchus Struthersii) in the pebbly beds of watercourses.

On re-entering the mountains near Chertinton, we moved from place to place, always selecting the most favourable ground for encamping, and stayed as long as was necessary in one spot. The daily rains and excessive humidity greatly interfered with our pursuits, increasing the difficulty of drying our plants and skins, and obliging us to seize every opportunity afforded by the short intervals of fine weather for the preservation of our collection.

The constant rains in the alpine zone were often accompanied by snow and frosts at night; the birds, too, were all moulting at this season, and hardly ten per cent. of those we shot were fit for preserving. But the plants, at all events in July, were in full flower, and we secured 324 varieties out of 3,000 specimens; whereas we obtained only 200 birds. Insects were very scarce, not only in the alpine region, but even in the lower ground. This was certainly a drawback to our entomological collection; on the other hand, we felt grateful for being spared the plague