(140) the arifamma of the island. Usually we dread the terrain around such places - no decent bush trails and a long march to reach them. Here we take desirable stuff as we go along - kingfishers sitting on fence-posts and threading over the streams; gallinules are literally tame. They walk about everywhere and could be mistaken for domestic fowls of some description. Good places for shore birds on the steep-to coral beach and among the mangroves. There are no trails leading any distance inland, but plenty of small water-ways to follow. Rain during the night. August 8th. David, Charlie and I ashore - leaving T.E.O.R. & Philip to tie in the nest of yesterday's birds. We hunted till noon + returned for lunch. I took a hawk and blasted another red-billed kingfisher so badly that he is fit only for pickle - as far as I can recall - the first to be so renowned. Charlie took a yellow-eye graybird - representing now the other usual species of that genus. At 8'10, we hove up and proceeded toward Renard Cove on Rendova across Blanche Channel. We visited Blanche I., on the way and found it completely coral + supporting nothing important in mid-life. Such ground does not seem to support the usual species except the hardy bald flycatcher. Mr. DeCourcy Brown, a trader came out from his house in his dinghy to advise us and informed that all the coast is steep-to right along. In the cove we are snug but shall have to boat it about a mile and a half to hit into the high land. Discovered to-day that all our supply of new + decent .303 cartridges has gone - been used up - only another inconvenience. We shall carry on somehow to keep busy until we see the steamer in Tulagi the week of the 26th. August 9th. Four of us were taken across to Mr. Brown's place in his little launch, towing the dinghy (although if we had refused his kindness we should have been ashore much earlier). Got into the bush about 9 A.M. and did my best to get up above the old crater but reached only 1000 feet by one o'clock. No trails - bush very thick and rough going. Took white-eyes, gray-headed, and bald flycatchers. Heard two hawks and numerous doves (red-breast) but the density of the smaller trees and interlocking vines afforded us vision. Return by I waded the swift-flowing stream and shot a white-eared kingfisher. Alternating this mode of travel with runs into the forest, I