have ceased to fall abundantly, and the recruiting in Malaita being what it is, it is hard to work the parts that are bearing. In addition, Everett assures you there is a curse hanging over the place, anyway, and if the cocoanuts were plentiful and beautiful, by the time they reached London or Sydney they would be found to have poison in them as soon as they were opened. There are two approaches to the bush in Choiseul Bay. They are both small rivers. One river extends east from a point half a mile north of the plantation, while a still larger river empties in a mangrove encir- cled bay a mile and a half on the southern side. The first river mentioned is not navigable as far as the second, and proved to be a poor place for birds on account of the great height of the trees which stand upon its banks. It is possible, however, with some difficulty, to succeed in getting into the bush with the use of a dinghy and considerable shoving. The second river, being wider, and being commanded by trees which remain at lesser heights, is a better one for working. This river winds slowly down from a steep waterfall some three miles from the mouth and is of easy nautical access all the way. The bush in this section of Choiseul is, however, extraordinarily disappointing. Our stop in Choiseul Bay was presumably for another try at Meek's crested pigeon. After going up both rivers, one or more of us several times, we all had the same story to report,