Showing 7 results

SUMMARY:
A 5-mile march to Trimo is recorded with weather, elevation, and route notes along the river bank and a bridge to the village. Ahmad Sheikh develops a hard cough and fever; the writer administers aspirin and quinine despite Lumsden. Botanical collecting includes rhododendrons and primulas (specimens 1296–1299) near a side valley and marshy fields.

CONTENT:
also huge flocks of snow pigeon, out of which we have shot over 30, which does not seem to make any difference.

Trimo 9th April. Trimo. 5 miles. B.P. 192.6° Temp. 45° Time 4:30 pm Approx ht. 10722' Path up the R. bank for 2 1/2 miles quite good, then over a bridge and a pretty steep ascent, easing off the last mile to the village - consisting of a few scattered houses, and some cultivation. It rained hard all night but cleared up and only drizzled during the day till 3:00 pm, when rain came on hard again. Ahmad Sheikh has developed the same cough and fever as L. and I have had. Ignoring Lumsden, I have given him 2 aspirin and quinine 3 times a day. The cough is awfully hard and painful. Took one new rhododendron on the

Rhod. wallichii 1296, fulgens 1297 way up, pinkish with rather a rounded leaf, and found a very nice one up here just in flower (1297). It also has a rounded leaf with heavy tomentum on the under surface.

P. atrodentata 1298, P. denticulata 1299 Here primula 1298 is growing in masses up the little side valley. ? Erythrocarpa is also in masses in open marshy fields. But so far I have found nothing more.

SUMMARY:
Diary notes describe travel from Thang toward Tsona in clear weather with route bearings between passes, observations of gentians and parnassius, and a partridge shot by L. identified as the Kansu bird. The party returns to Tsona before a heavy storm and notes Delphinium grandiflora, Aconitum gymnandrum, and borage by fields, with remarks on re-entering the dry zone indicated by birds.

CONTENT:
56

pretty, but it is difficult to get photos of gentians, they close up so quickly. We are definitely suddenly back in the dry zone again. Birds tell it even quicker and more markedly than flowers do. One could give what should be the Tibetan frontier with great accuracy by birds alone.

11th August. THANG (To Thang Chu). 14120' 10 miles. Another good day with perfectly clear atmosphere. It is a joy to have this fine weather, I find I can walk all day. I have walked from Mago here over all the passes and feel fitter than ever. No great excitement: plenty of parnassius (epaphus), but all common. L. shot a partridge which turns out to be the Kansu bird. Only found one new flower today, a gentian (791) (Gentianella palustris 791). A fine peak was seen from the Rala La, bearing 87° Mag. Other bearings are: Camp GUI to DZA LA 155°; GULA to DZA LA 136°; GUI LA to RALA LA 325°; RALA LA to THANG approx 265°. This last bearing seems to be right for Tsona too, or nearly so.

12th August. TSONA (10). 14282'. 7 miles. Arrived back on another good day, fine until after we were in, when a very heavy storm came over. Few flowers seen, but some fine Delphinium grandiflora (Delphin. grandiflorum), and an aconite (Aconitum gymnandrum 793). Wonderful patches of borage on the edge of fields.

SUMMARY:
Notes on catching butterflies, shooting Blood pheasants at Homo, and finding a bright blue delphinium. The Dzongpen of Lhakang was informed of the party’s arrival via Kusho. Detailed route description from camp to Lhakang Dzong, crossing the river and passing through scrub and conifer forest to open shrubland.

CONTENT:
L. caught a few butterflies in the fitful intervals of sunshine. I shot a couple of Blood pheasants at Homo. 78 male

today. Found a lovely very bright blue delphinium. There must have been many flowers here, but we are too late. The Dzongpen of Lhakang knows of our arrival, & sent up to meet us & find out what we wanted in the way of transport. Sent Kusho in the morning to tell him.

1st September. To H 10000 LHAKANG DZONG. 12200' 10 miles. Cross the river to R. bank immediately below camp. Path then easy but fairly steep through scrub jungle & fir forest to m 3 1/2, where the river is again crossed to L bank. The whole way, Waterfalls of great height (vertical drop 500') also occur. there are extremely precipitous cliffs on the North side of the valley, while the South side is covered with conifer jungle. From m 3 1/2 to m 5 the path climbs steadily, but is very good. Thence it descends for half a mile & climbs again over a shoulder at m 6. From here to m 7 it is nearly level. At m 7 the conifers are completely left behind, & the path is broad & easy over a dry hillside covered with gooseberry, berberis & other shrubs. It gradually descends to at m 10 Lhakang, passing a small village at m 9. Lhakang

SUMMARY:
L. shot a Redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus), with a reference noted to Ibis 183. An empty nest of the same species was found in a bank, made of moss and bents lined with horse-hair; eggs found on June 1 are described as pale green with a ring of light brown spots at the broad end.

CONTENT:
May 3.
L. Shot Phoenicurus auroreus — Redstart. See Ibis 183.
Also found an empty nest of " " placed in a hole in a bank — a neat affair of moss &
bents lined with horse-hair. (Eggs, found June 1, are pale green with a ring of
light brown spots at the broad end & a few elsewhere).

• SUMMARY:
  Notes record securing a Himalayan Goldcrest on March 11, the first time L. has seen the species in Bhutan. Observations detail habitats and elevations across Sakden, Pumbi La, Reyimpu, Chungkar, and Tro Shika near the Teboba plateau. Brief logistical notes mention P. Whiler and arrivals dated 26–28.

CONTENT:
E 140° M 170 280 Sissin La
Choling La W
Rumzang

L p. 25 - to Sakden - March 11, 12, 13, 14
28:
Secured Regulus regulus sikkimensis - March 11. First time L. has seen Goldcrest in Bhutan.
Sakden bird from Oak forest. Others Pumbi La - 6 Sept shown Fir forest; one at Reyimpu (6000) in birch forest. Chungkar bird (11,000) in a Pinus nepalensis plantation. On 20 April got a bird at Tro Shika in buckthorn jungle on edge of Teboba plateau. So the Himalayan Goldcrest is very partial as to its habitat - see Ibis 204.
P. Whiler 12-15. grass sp. 1216.

• arrived 26. - 27 - 28

SUMMARY:
Morning fair until rain set in; camp well arranged by the Zumpen of Lhuentsé after earlier shortcomings at Pimi (Rudo La), though Narim Thang remains three days away. On 16th August at Camp Julu (9800 ft) after a tiring 9-mile march along a muddy forest track on the right bank of the Khoma Chu, with leeches common, foul weather, bad path nearly impossible for mules, and bridges over several large side streams.

CONTENT:
67

too.

weight pivot trapping. bamboo rope holding up bridge.

We can't be far as the crow flies from Narim Thang, our final camp. Yet it appears that we are to take three days from here. That can hardly mean more than eight miles a day. Today has been nearly fine till 11.0 am. Then rain as usual. A good camp, arranged by the Zumpen of Lhuentsé, who appeared in person. He was told off for lack of arrangements at Pimi (Rudo La) so is making certain of things along this line, which is in his area.

3 16th August CAMP JULU (9800) 9 miles. Path

L. "a tiring march along an execrable muddy track through thick forest." Leeches were common and the weather foul. Keeps up the R. bank of the Khoma Chu the whole way. A few side streams of considerable size are crossed by bridges. The path is extremely bad, almost impossible even for mules. It leads through very dense jungle, &

SUMMARY:
A numbered list records several birds with sex and identifications, including Slaty-blue Flycatcher, Black-browed flycatcher warbler, Orange-gorgeted flycatcher, Minivet, White-winged grosbeak, White-throated laughingthrush, and Sooty flycatcher. One entry is noted as new to this collection (L.), with a cross-reference to birds on p. 3a.

CONTENT:
1810 ♂ 26.5. Cyornis t. tricolor. Slaty-blue Flycatcher.
1811 ♂ - Seicercus b. burkii. Black-browed flycatcher warbler
1812 ♀ - Siphia s. strophiata. Orange-gorgeted flycatcher
1813 ♂ - Pericrocotus brevirostris affinis. Minivet.
1814 ♂ - Perissospiza carneipes. White-winged grosbeak.
1815 ♂ .. Garrulax a. albogularis. White-throated laughingthrush.
1816 ♂ - Hemichelidon sibirica cacabata. Sooty flycatcher.

• new to this collection (L.)

For birds see p. 3a