Part 51 - Damthang and Ha Valley field notes and plant collections, 3–4 June 1933

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SUMMARY:
Field notes from Damthang and the Ha valley describe rainy conditions limiting bird observations, steep descents from the Ha La, and exploration towards the Kyu La. Numerous plants were collected or noted, and a Serow was observed at close range; ticks and lice are mentioned as prevalent in the jungle.

CONTENT:
23

with small rhododendrons, some of which were in flower.
We saw no butterflies & few birds owing to the rain. There are
new kinds of birds here though & a good number of flowers.

Fritillaria (42)
Lloydia tibetica (43)
Collected a Fritillaria 3/4 m below the Kyu La, near the big
Meconopsis, which should be out in two weeks. It is white, &
probably imperialis: also found an Asphodel. Descent from
Meconopsis bhutanica sp. nov. (44)
the Ha La is very steep for a good two miles & then an
Pieris villosa 46
Euphorbia sikkimensis 47
easy descent into this valley which looks very fine -
Berberis virescens 48
Rh. wightii 49. rather more open than the Charithang valley. It should be a
good place to collect in. Rest House much the same as at
Charithang.

3rd June. Damthang Yesterday was fine most of the day, today only for a
short time in the morning & again in the evening. The jungle is
everywhere very thick & almost impossible to see birds in. Although
there must be new kinds here, we have hardly seen any. Today
we went 3 m up the Ha valley - which is wrongly marked on the
map - that to the North being the real Ha river.

4th June. Mostly fine till midday, then rain. Went up towards the
Kyu La got two new species & a butterfly or two. Saw a Serow (Himalayan goat-antelope)
twice, the last time at 40-50'. It stood absolutely still watching
B.S. cont. us & appeared to be quite happy & unafraid. It was in excellent
Ludlow spotting birds condition, with a good grey coat & fair horns. Found a few
from Damthang well filled ticks on me this morning & Ludlow got a louse. The
bungalow. jungle seems to be full of them, but no leeches anyway -
June 4. Pedicularis siphonantha (53) Pedicularis elephas (52) Spiraea bella (51)
Gypsophila cerastioides (54) Iris clarkei (56)