266 a star hunter. A number of the racket-tailed kingfishers were taken to-day. Small birds are found more easily in the lowland around the river are white-eyes, mudjets, flycatchers, an olive honey-sucker, and a tiny sort of wren. There is not much variety here and most of the species are represented elsewhere. I am quite content that we are safely anchored in shelter; this is the longest stretch of stray NW weather they have seen here in years. The population of the island is estimated at 1200 and most of them are on the other side. The villages consist of only two or three houses harboring family communities. Mr. Osborne here is the only white resident. Feb. 27- Four of us ashore again to be drenched in a blinding squall before landing up the river. Rain all day: The boys returned about 20 small birds. This weather is nothing else but shocking. I have been concentrating on white-eyes and the small grey thickheads, which appear to be the only certain new editions. Practically all the birds have been taken around the river flat in secondary bush between or rather among the heavy showers.