(348) 349 I caught up on the birds by noon to-day and worked on the motor during the afternoon making ready for early start to-morrow.The even- ing's hunt returned three rails which gives us a fairly good series.All together nearly ninety specimens from four days collecting. Putting up birds at night. Wind fresh from SE with occasional squalls. April 8 Hove up at 7 A.M.and proceeded out under power clearing reefs in thick rain squall.NE wind died and then shifted to SE which forced us to beat all day.Manoba Is.,off NE coast of Malaita in sight by 6 P.M.Motor used continually until 9 o'clock. Saw several shearwaters during the day but could not try for them. Stormy weather during the night;vessel made little progress. April 9 Called by Captain to fix steering device which had become disar- ranged.Ship about abeam of Atta Cove.Started motor at 9 A.M.Dirty weather all day;wind light SE and ESE with several heavy squalls,one carrying away the outer jib sheet.Captain asleep from IO A.M.until I when we were just past Cape Arascides.From here we made a good ccourse to Ulimburi,an- choring at 5:25 P.M.Saw isolated shearwaters,- about a dozen at different times(Puffinus pacificus chlororhynchus) and another smaller bird,dark with white underside (Pterodroma becki); impossible to lower boat because of bad weather and short-handed crew.The captain is a positive hindrance to the collecting work. Eyerdam came down from the camp at Arorla yesterday bringing all specimens which we unpacked and put away.He had several birds to be pre- pared,shells,insects,etc. We shall return to Arorla to-morrow,taking more ammunition and some food. Overcast sky;cool but no rain during night. April 10 Morning taken up finishing work aboard ship.Eyerdam and I landed at 2 P.M.with ten carriers he had brought down including the faithful and most useful "Charlie" Bubomai.Climbed nearly to the top of the first ridge and slept in a small village. The terrane rises rather suddenly behind the brief foreshore and is of mixed porphery formation with an abundance of coraline limestone intermingled.From about 800-1000 feet we passed through numerous patches of secondary growth indicating old garden land. No collecting done. Rain during night. April II Breakfasted on rice and started by 8 A.M.,crossing at 3500 feet by noon.The typical mountain forest begins at about 3000;again I noticed the rockiness of the landscape.It is not so pronounced on Torombusu,the big mountain.Coraline limestone is predominant,especially on the eastern slopes of the region we are passing through.Bird life seemed rather sparse We met two natives on the trail who had a few specimens.These we took on to Arorla where we found Coultas at work.3 P.M.Practically all the series are well-filled,even up to fifty specimens in some cases.Over 500 skins time have been made during this trip inland.I should like to have had more time at the Torombusu camp at 4000 feet;however,I do not think the expedi- tion has missed much.We cannot stay more than a week longer for many rea- sons,- principally food shortage on the ship;in camp one can always get native food. Assisted with bird preparation.Hunters returned at 5 o'clock. Rain commenced about 4 continuing into night. April I2 Four natives out with guns all day.They are not shooting the com- mon species which we have well represented.