July 18- Charlie, David, and I started in the long-boat to visit a village seen about a mile off when we entered the passage last night. I decided that we might not be able to get through the break in the barrier reef and so put the boat about. Took a pair of noddy terns. Shifted the ship over to the mainland of Vayuamu I. just inside Emma Pt., and started up a river. Took two little blue kingfishers. We were able to navigate about 1/2 mile. Tried the boat at the beginning of the quick water and spread out. I worked my way up on top of a likely ridge, but found the bird as rare as ever and birds scarce. Strove SE trade, all day and an overcast sky. Took a female graybird, several flycatchers, and a large graybird. Heard the red-billed kingfisher, long-tail, & hornbill. Remarkable occurrence again as on Gtufai, when not present on the adjacent mainland of New Georgia. Vayuamu I. is approx 18 miles, N & S x 15 miles, E & W and is nearly circular except for the Mbariki peninsula extending to the NE. Like Kulambang it is a volcanic cone of an ancient origin, the summit rising 3,680 feet - The highest elevation in the New Georgia group. Years ago it was inhabited (1845), most of the villages being in the bush; at present there perhaps a half-dozen small salt-water villages, all mission-controlled weekends to 7-day. David & Charlie who had been rambling around the river bottom turned more birds than me. We returned on board by 5 P.M. July 19- A letter from the village we tried to reach yesterday came while we were away, saying he knew a trail up to the top of Vayuamu and had been instructed by Captain Middleton, R.N., at Gizo to look after all the wants of the France, and take us into the bush. He said he would return this morning to interview me - I waited two hours after sending David & Charlie ashore - then I followed. I took a little blue kingfisher before landing up the river. We always look for them close to the mouth among the mangroves. Shot several flycatchers, of the three species and a new bird to me - small graybird with black throat, belly & under tail - the under part of the primaries & secondaries also black inside brown. David remembers the type from Ysabel. There seems to be an apparent parallel between the New Georgia group and Ysabel, indicating geological relationship. The large graybird is another Ysabel product. Saw two hornbills today, but have not come upon any in the bush yet. I gathered a few insects today - hard-shelled spiders and hemiptera. Have seen no snakes - the common brown lizard is present. Charles brought in a red-billed kingfisher and two pygmy parrots - both similar to the mainland types. Returning I found the native had returned. He proved willing to conduct us up the mountain on Monday. July 20- Three added to the field party today. Started off at 7 in the rain, which continued intermittent all day. SE squalls with consistent overcast sky. We took another "little blue" and one white-eared kingfisher. David contributed a night-hawk yesterday - the first since Fanois I. There were not many birds about today. I got a red-breasted dove and