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The next morning the sun was scarcely up, when I started for the summit. Bitterly cold it was, the ground was frozen and crisp and the frost still silvered the trees and grass. The soft curtains of mist which were floating lazily about the dips and sides of the rising grounds soon dispersed as the sun rose higher in the heavens, and an hour spent on the summit finished my work. I saw a nigoo when going up, but though I got a snap shot, he went away untouched.
Before quitting this elevated spot, on my downward journey, I must add a few lines relative to the different natural objects which I found there. To begin with the largest animal, bears; they are certainly numerous, almost every oak tree appeared to be scratched and clawed by these animals. The moss covering their rough bark was torn off and hung down in strips. They evidently climb these trees to feed on the acorns. It is a small black species of bear, not half the size of that inhabiting Yeso. Wolves are abundant; they howled even during the day time close to us. The nigoo is a true species of chamois, and a handsome animal. I saw one of them: as I have said; they are numerous and afford food for the wolves. Deer are scarce; they prefer the lower ranges. Wild boar abounds and hares likewise.
All the streams at the top besides those lower down literally swarmed with trout, which were busily engaged spawning, while that little robber the water-ouzel, was as busily employed destroying the spawn, singing and diving and thoroughly enjoying the good food before him. This bird I may remark is identical with our own species, with the peculiar and interesting difference of not having the white horse-shoe patch on the breast, which the British species has. A single snipe of that large species Gallinago Australis, remained several days about the water near the house, and then disappeared. The common wren, often in its funny, inquisitive manner, would appear from some thick bush, utter its very long gong, and after watching me for a few moments, bob itself out of sight. I saw also a large spotted wood-pecker, a bird I have only pre-
