Part 169 - Tobrang to SHAPANG: bird collecting, weather and specimens

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SUMMARY:
Field notes describe bird collecting in dense jungle near Tobrang, with birds proving shy; Ludlow shot a 'whistling schoolboy' thought to be the Burma form or possibly new, and there is still no sign of Puitso or the missing dak. On the 6th they moved to SHAPANG (6584') over 6 miles in hot weather after heavy overnight rain, with BP 200.6 and temperature 75°, and recorded plant specimens 935–938.

CONTENT:
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morning and evening wandering about the jungle, and did fairly well. But we have both developed the habit of missing Pucopygas in a most distressing way. Ludlow shot a "whistling schoolboy", and was surprised to find that it is different - either the Burma bird or a new one. No sign yet of Puitso or the missing dak. Tomorrow is our last day here. We have done well here, and got about 10 or a dozen birds a day, others are a good many different ones still to collect, but even in dry weather it would be difficult to get all. It is curious how shy all birds are in this dense jungle, where they have such easy means of hiding. Neither in Tibet nor here, are birds molested in any way - game birds or others. But whereas in Tibet, on an open plateau, with no cover at all, birds will let you walk to within a few yards of them, here they are off into thick cover almost before one has time to see them.

5th Sept. Tobrang.

6th Sept. To SHAPANG. 6584' 6 miles. Very hot, but fine until the evening. There was very heavy rain last night for some hours. (BP. 200.6 Temp 75°)

Didymocarpus albitubus 935
Vigna vexillata 936
Hoya linearis 937
Chlorophytum nepalense 938