260 A strong dose of fever took me to bed without any supper. The boys returned a few birds the stephanac ground dove and the green-backed land kingfisher among them. Compared to what we used to put up in the Solomons our output here is ridiculous. It is better than nothing which would have represented our achievement had we gone to Australia for this engine and overhaul. Bird-collecting on the mainland and in those islands is a seasonal proposition. We can accomplish very little from the ship which is the only possible base; and the birds seem hard to obtain, probably on account of feeding conditions. The lack of big patches of bush on this side of Tagula explains a good deal; all heavy timber is on the weather coast of the island. We may be able to do better at Rossel Is., which is all wooded and supports plenty of bush villages and trails. Feb. 25th Three hunters landed early. I started out in the canvas boat to reach grass-land reported to harbor quail further down the coast but had to put back with recurring fever. Heavy rain squalls continually. The vessel dragged about 200 yards during me yesterday;