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viously found in the extreme North of Nipon, the common jay, copper pheasants, an the robin red-breast. I was very pleased to find this latter bird, and to notice how exactly he resembled our own species in their bold impudent nature, as well as plumage; they appear only to differ in not having quite so much red on the breast, as those at home. I may also mention the bullfinch, whose note and habit are exactly similar to the English birds.
What delighted me greatly was the beautiful open woodland clear of brush wood and undercover, the soft green carpet of moss under foot and the perfect stillness and quiet. Oak, maple, beech, and chestnut, constituted the principal deciduous trees. Of these the oak, and beech, were invariably fine timber; the chestnut frequently, if not generally, sprang from the ground in two or three stems. The pines I have already mentioned, with the exception of a species of spruce, which I do not know, but which flourishes on the higher slopes. Yew of fair dimensions grew on the summit; henoki only moderately. I do not think the Japanese care much for the momi pine; at any rate I have never seen it cultivated. That wonderfully hard close-grained wood of a yellowish tint, much resembling box, and from which combs are manufactured, is found on Odai Yama; its native name is Tsagi. Another very peculiar deciduous tree, I saw, but only here and there, called sarta; it has a red skin-like bark, and is very hard and close grained. I might go on almost endlessly in speaking of the numerous species of deciduous trees, which here, unmolested by man, spring up, flourish and die, but I fear I have already dwelt too long on a single subject. Once more I may add I see no means by which these great forests of excellent timber can be got from their high and difficult situations, to the habitations of man.
The rocky courses cut through the mountains by the innumerable streams and rivers, shew generally limestone, and rough coarse granite, with a sprinkling of sand stone; higher up the rocks and stones are smaller, and granite predominates.
I started about noon for the downward journey, but
