Part 21 - Natrampa: rhododendron collections and travel notes, 11 July

1 page

SUMMARY:
Collected several flowers including scented Maddenii-series rhododendrons (specimens 2332, 2334, 2338); noted dense jungle like near Lao in Bhutan, scarce leeches, numerous ticks, and no Pnoepyga, and considered marching down the Chayul Chu. On 11 July, traveled 7 miles to Natrampa in heavy rain and shot two birds near arrival, the same species previously sought near Lung.

CONTENT:
Didymocarpus aromatica 2333, Pedic. integrifolia 2339. 120

This afternoon we got several flowers, the two most interesting were two rhododendrons. One No. 2332 (Rhod. crassum 2332, 2338), 2338 is the same, a beautiful Maddenii ser. rhododendron with a scent which we got from a long way away. Another pretty one 2334 ("igneum" 2334 sp. nov.), like a R. cinnabarinum, only bigger I think, with fewer flowers. These were rather surprises to me, but I have seen Maddenii in flower nearly as late as this at Sanden. Got a few butterflies too, but all are in bad condition. The jungle 4 miles down is very dense, like that near Lao in Bhutan. Leeches were scarce however, and ticks still pretty numerous. Saw no Pnoepyga at all, although the jungle is just what they should be in, nor other birds of interest. It would be interesting to go 3–4 marches down the Chayul Chu in June or even now. All L. giganteum are over now.

11th July. Natrampa. 7 miles. Rained hard all night, and most of today. Nothing of interest on the way up, except two birds I shot just before reaching here, the same as I had tried to get on my way to Lung. The heavy rain had swollen all the side