Part 137 - Nahampa: collecting primulas and kuling; 16 October

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SUMMARY:
In camp during snow and rain, the writer collected Gentiana ornata seed, hunted kuling with Tsungpen, shot a raven for Inglis at Darjeeling, prepared bird skins, and packed divots of several Primula species. On 16th October at Nahampa, after a clear, frosty night, they noted kuling and Crossoptilon above Karutra and recorded nearby plant finds.

CONTENT:
conditions all day in camp - snow and rain with patches of sun. All I could collect today was some seed of Gentiana ornata, but I went out again to look for kuling with Tsungpen. First of all I shot a raven for Inglis at Darjeeling, then we came across three kuling just at the top edge of the rhododendrons, I got two of them. They are in good plumage, except for the head and nape, where moulting is not quite finished. Made flat skins of all of them, but wonder how they will travel tomorrow before being set. I made a box today, and have put in it a good many divots - two good divots of the yellow Primula petiolaris 2370, and three other divots which include two primulas, both petiolaris. One, I hope, is 2373 Primula chamaedora, a most beautiful flower, and the other is only the little white petiolaris primula Primula verrucosa we first saw at Chhachar 1614 or 1615 - a most uninteresting one. Let's hope all arrive in good condition at home. Temp in tent 20°F.

16th October. Nahampa. 10 miles. Last night was clear after 5.0pm, and very cold, with no more snow. The morning was perfect, really clear, with a hard frost. We had some rain down here, but nothing much. Saw a number of kuling above Karutra (seen Androsace brahmaputrae 2737, Ranunculus vellereum 2738) and also Crossoptilon, but no blood pheasant.