-67- yesterday. Today one of the bug boys started another small fire on the slopes across the Atairo from camp. Such fires have demolished most of the forest above about 2100 m. on this side of the mountain. On burnt forest land a dense growth of fern (mostly bracken) springs up. Small second growth trees such as Dodonaea viscosa, Alphon- onia, grow with the ferns. There is also a fairly abundant regeneration of Araucaria and Libocedrus. But in dry weather the fern is very inflammable and while man roams the mountain the forests will continue to recede. Fire is carried within the forests by an abundant coating of mosses and hepatics on the trees which dries very quickly when not kept moist by frequent mists and rains. Spent the day looking after accumulated collections. Gathered a few plants near camp. Results here very poor in insects and herps. One species of frog, one skink. Butterflies very few. Nights too cold and dry for nocturnal things to be about in numbers. The mammal collection flourishes with 9, possibly 10 species. Today's additions a Pogonormys (beautiful little rat), and an unhandsome giant rat which may be Uromys Anak; the first trapped on grassland, the other shot in a tree in the forest. About 50 mammal specimens to date. Ken departed for Biniguni at 3:30 A.M. Relative humidity readings by whirling hygrometer 6:30 A.M. (before sunrise) 51%; 1 P.M. (bright sun) 58%; 5:30 P.M. (after sundown) .78%. Tuesday, May 26, 1953: Max. 21 degrees, Min. 1 degree C. Rel. humidity: 6:30 A.M. 56%; 5:30 P.M. (thin drifting mist) %%. Slight breeze up the camp hollow at 6 A.M., changing downhill before seven. Broken mist clouds from about mid-morning, coming from SW. Stars and nearly full moon dimly visible through thin high mist tonight. Botanized down the forested ravine from camp to altitude of about 2200 m. Ravine widens somewhat and forest becomes taller (over 100 ft.) downstream. Also, the higher canopy lets in more light and undergrowth of Elatostema and an urti- caceous shrub is very thick. Flora poorer than at camp level. Several ferns added to the collection, among about 30 numbers. A notable absence in ferns for all the forest I have seen up here, is Grammitis, usually abundant in forests of the higher Papuan mountains. The explanation probably lies in this being a relatively dry mountain. Since we arrived on the 17th there has been no more than a slight drizzle on two days. Wednesday, May 27, 1953: Max. 21.5; Min. 1.5 C. Rel. humidity: 6:30 A.M. 77%; 5:30 49%. Clear on this part of mountain until about 4 P.M., then wisps of mist to dusk; warm wind coming up valley 7 P.M. Broken mist clouds driving up Gwariu Valley mid levels all morning; coming from ca. north, but probably deflected SE wind. Left camp 9 A.M. to botanize in Gwariu Valley and returned 2:15. Followed trail opened by Wynn a few days ago. Instead of keeping on up the valley on grassy benches which offer good travel he struck down to the river too soon and