(61) FIELD NOTES OF BOUGAINVILLE I. Note: Since I found very little time for writing sensibly in the two bush camps maintained from December 3I, 1927 - February IO, 1928 by Dr. F.P.Drowne,G.Richards,and H.Hamlin,I wrote up the entire experience while at Arawa Plantation awaiting the arrival of the France from Sama- rai,Papua,where she had been undergoing repairs. The situation at Kupei is ideal for collecting since it is locat- ed approximately at the midpoint of two"Bird zones",the elevation being 2300 feet.By descending the trail from the camp one can find a half doz- en branch trails leading to nearby villages;these tracks circle the feet of the ridges that lead up to the top of the range and give access to to the birds of the lower and middle"zone"(1500-3000);this would include most of the avifauna between Kupei and the shore excepting the shore and salt-water birds per se.Ascending the trail,which passes right through our front yard,and reaches a maximum altitude of 5200 feet on top of the mountain,the species encountered begin to vary about $ mile up- 3000 feet.The brown and black fantails give way to the ashy-gray fantail;the yellow(black-bib)thickhead is replaced by the drabber moun- tain variety(the calls of the two are distinctly different);and the yel- low-bib dove,black-winged pigeon,white throated pigeon,and green parra- keet make their appearance.Proceeding higher additional species are en- countered- the warbler,and above 4000 the red-breast and thrush.So we are in excellent position to penetrate both"zones"while concentrating on the higher.G.R.,and I alternate in daily trips to the top and as far down on the other side as our legs warrant.Thus each man is fresh for his climb and can work faster and better.There was never a day in camp when anyone could rest from bird-skinning.The Doctor remained constant- ly at the bench.The daily catch was augmented by the hunting of two natives- Waggi and Tutepe(the former the official cook for the outfit). They would rumage the area around Kupei in half-day jaunts and often bring in excellent material;indeed,the only specimen of the much-desired pitta or ground thrush was taken by Tutepe.G. R.,has a worthy assistant in Ona,a youngster of 10,who is the son of the Kupei kukurai.My compa- nion,bird-retriever,spotter,etal.,is called Wagga-a youth of about I5. He can climb anything that grows.Both Waggi and Tutepe never go out un- accompanied;there are always at least two young monkeys with each eager for the work of retrieving in hopes that the hunter may shoot a common gray pigeon which they can take home to the kai-kai pot.The personnel of the camp-followers is ever changing.Sometimes a monkey(often called "maggi")goes up with the altitude party for a day;Ona and Wagga have been the two regulars.In aweek's time they knew exactly what was expect- ed of them although neither could speak a word of pidgin.They were well worth their tobacco(a stick a day).When I happened on the only"yellow- legged ground pigeon"I had a lad with me from one of the distant villag- es who was quite untutored in white folkways;he was somewhat nonplussed by my activity and rather slow to savvy his job,but he seemed to bring good fortune.It was very rainy and cold;I was in low spirit and much cha- grined by the day's luck.Suddenly we flushed this large bird and it was promptly shot and retrieved.When the kid showed it to me I thought I im- mediately recognized a common red-knobbed pigeon and so gave it to him for kai-kai.This rara avis would have been cooked whole and digested if the Doctor had not happened to see it when we got back to camp.All the local natives remarked that"this fella stop too much along mountain- no got plenty".