-95- beyond which on left side, progress was stopped by a vertical cliff rising from the water. Could see about 1/4 mile up gorge to where it bent slightly west. A patch of levelish ground in the bend with wild banana trees growing in the forest. Walls of gorge rise sheer and even overhang. Not much vegetation on rocks which generally are dry. Scared about 5 Dobsonia bats out of one rock crevice. Other holes on joint planes and small clef[t]s looked promising for small bats. River a continuous rapid in the gorge but with moderate fall. Boys crossed with no trouble from rock to rock and by wading. Blue pigeon for supper. Two of them nicely done in the pressure cooker. These birds very common in the forest. We have had one most days - a meal for two men. Monday, August 3, 1953: Max 32, Min. 19 C. The poor job done on initial rigging of camp plus the necessity of carrying on with normal field work while making the other things shipshape, has delayed max. and min. observations until today. This thermometer shelter is the best yet. Thatched with fresh leaves of wild banana plants, and decorated on the corners with graceful young Casuarina trees. Clear, slightly rosy dawn, with high cirrus clouds drifting from east and the Goropu heights clear and cold-looking in the first sunlight. Afternoon overcast; some light rain; evening clear. The river about 6" lower than when we came here a week ago. Collected along the trail to Biniguni Village and beyond about 1/2 mile toward Budmag. Some good plants including two ground orchids of the forest, a beautiful horizontally-branched shrubby Amaracarpus with starry white flowers; a deciduous now leafless Combretum which climbs to the topmost branches of a Casuarina in the forest and strews the ground with its small red flowers. Collection of this liana, and a high-climbing Piper with sausage-like red fruiting spikes, involved the felling of a big Casuarina about 180 ft. tall and about 2 1/2 ft. through above its buttressed base. Stepped 44 paces on the log and estimated the topmost part of the tree. Wynn departed early this A.M. with a transport for Baiawa. About 32 loads: 19 of specimens and the remainder surplus foodstuffs which were brought to Biniguni instead of being left on the coast. This was my first good day in the field in this locality. Mammals are coming in slowly. Only 40 specimens for 6 nights trapping and five of shooting, but there are 13 species, including 3 of Melomys. Insect catching is good: many butterflies. Two species of fishes and one crustacean from the river. Skinks are plentiful but not in the collection. Three species of snakes collected - all by villagers. Van in his night hunts finds more geckos and frogs than mammals. One of the geckos is about 10-12 inches long and beautifully banded. Tuesday, August 4, 1953: Max. 30, Min. 18.5 C. Clear and sunny most of day; overcast from about 2-5 P.M.; night sky full of stars. Black clouds enveloped Goropu this afternoon. It looks like a wet mountain. Day spent in camp on yesterday's plants and some collected just across the river by my boys today. All my drying equipment being used to capacity.