-81- tents. I have it alive in a lamp carton. No noise from the creature this morning, nor from those free in the forest, except for one belated call at 6:15. Wednesday, July 1, 1953: Max 20,5, Min. 14,5 degrees C. A change in the weather. The only sunshine today was for a few minutes beginning at noon. Very few drizzles and short spell of mist about 5 P.M. At 5:30 a golden afterglow visible through the trees in the direction of Biniguni and Goropu showing blue in the west. Some dim stars this evening. Unable to tackle the steep slopes down to the Atairo Stream myself, I sent the boys there and wrote the mid-year report due ONR. Discovered only at the beginning of the week that I do not have with me the ONR instruction on making reports. I took it out of my files at Baiawa and must have left it loose in my box. The boys brought back about 30 spp. mainly rain forest elements not hitherto collected on the mountain. Several of the species present in the gully at our Top Camp. An unusual small tree fig which resembles Damaropsis and may belong in that genus. Also a Grammitis with leaves 70 cm. long. Thursday, July 2, 1953: Max 20, Min. 15 C. An equable climate in all respects. The daily lousiness continues though admittedly with fleeting promises of something better. A colorful dawn; then mist, drizzle, longer bursts of sunshine than for days, followed by steady rain, 2:45 - 4:30. Half clear tonight. Concentrated on the bigger trees this morning and collected two oaks, a Gordonia, and Engelhadtia, the latter always in my experience found as- sociated with the oaks of the mid-mountain forests. I'm not so sure now that the major dominant of these slopes, which I have been calling an oak, is an acorn bearer. It may be Castanopsis. Have only found it in flower. The genus is regularly associated with Oaks in New Guinea, but hitherto I have seen it attain dominance only at the lower edge of the community. We are 700 m. above the beginning of the mid-mountain on these slopes. A rather weary, or unenthusiastic native armed constable arrived this AM with home mails sent through from Baniara. Spoke of big rain and flooded rivers below. Ken left this morning early with two boys. Will do some preparation of #3 Camp site on his way down to Biniguni.