mals move about in large flocks, in which may be seen
individuals of all sizes and ages, and seldom remain
more than a few hours in one place. They are in constant
motion, leaping from bough to bough and from
tree to tree, chattering constantly; and, notwithstanding
their great size, are in general harmless, though ready
enough to defend themselves if assailed.
The forest extends in parts close up to the peak of
Jako, which has an elevation of 81 BO feet. The very
summit, however, which is a short flat ridge, and. a
considerable part of the east and south face, are bare
and grassy, or covered with scattered shrubs. The more
common shrubby forms of the vegetation of the temperate
zone, are Salix, Rosa, Rubus, Lonicera, Vibwrnum,
Rerberis, Indigofera, and Prinsepia, all, except the two
last, quite European. Indigofera forms a remarkable
exception, and one well worthy of note, as the genus is
a very tropical one, although its shrubby species are
particularly abundant throughout the whole of the western
Himalaya. These shrubby species, however, constitute
a particular section of the genus, very distinct
in habit, and in the large size and bright colour of the
flower, from the more ordinary forms, and they are confined
to the drier parts of the mountains, being quite
wanting in the humid climate of Darjeeling and Khasya,
and almost entirely so in the mountains of the Peninsula.
The herbaceous vegetation of the spring months quite
corresponds, in the .temperate nature of its forms, with
what has been found to be the case with the trees and
shrubs; but during the rainy season, as has been well
pointed out by Dr. Royle in his valuable essay on the
■distribution of Himalayan plants, this is much less
■markedly the case. At the commencement of spring, in
■April (for March is still too cold for much vegetation),
■the weather being generally bright, though with occa- *
Hsional heavy showers, the earliest flowers are species of
WViola, Frag aria, Geranium, Veronica, Valeriana, and
■dandelion. From April, as summer advances, the temperature
gradually rises, till towards the end of June,
■when the rainy season commences. These months are
Ijjgenerally dry, and if no rain falls the heat is sometimes
^'considerable, the thermometer rising as high as 80° in
the shade. Still the flora is almost entirely temperate,
the early spring plants being succeeded by many others
of European families, principally Ranunmlacece, Rosacea,
Labiatm, Stellata, Polygonacece, Epilobiacece, Primulacece,
«tc. I can scarcely enumerate a single spring flowering
|>lant which does not belong to an European family, unless
Kfrum be an exception, which it can hardly be considered,
the flowers only being displayed during May and June,
Mjhile the leaves do not make their appearance until
after the rainy season has commenced. Few species are,
However, identical with those of Europe, except Stellaria
media, Cerastium vulgatum, Taraxacum officinale, Ver-
msiscum Thapsus, Thymus Rerpyllum, and Poa annua.
I The rainy season generally commences about the 20th
of June, or between that date and the end of the month,
and continues till the middle or end of September, with
■ccasional intermissions, rarely exceeding a week at a
■me. During the rains the atmosphere is exceedingly
moist, dense fogs usually prevailing when rain does not
■ The ram-fall is probably more considerable at