(45) In the main stream of the river in the fork of dead limbs protruding above the surface of the water we saw two wagtail's nests; one had two eggs in it, nearly incubated. Returning Mr. Beck shot two long tailed swifts and a small green parrot, a gray-headed female. November 27 Up the river after breakfast to acquire some photographs and to bathe. Saw two little blue kingfishers and a dozen curlew; small green parrots inhabit the mangrove trees near the mouth; white-eyes and midgets were heard along both banks. November 28 Mr. Beck and I went up the river in the dinghy; the Doctor and Hicks went ashore on the plantation. On the way up we got a large eagle hawk and one little blue kingfisher. I got ashore about a mile below the falls on the north bank and followed a ridge until noon when I found myself lost since I had crossed some intersecting ridges. I stop- frequently to call but only got a crow. By 2 o'clock I had found my way out to the river somehow where I shot a pair of young hornbills in "the hornbill tree". I had covered at least three square miles of country and felt very poorly compensated; all the small birds I found were along the river bank. Mr. Beck had poor luck; he shot at a small chocolate-colored ground dove previously taken on San Cristobal and on the Santa Cruz is- lands. He shot a green parrot, male of the small species; this bird had a yellow head and beak (female- gray head and black beak), and is similar to the small parrot taken further south in the group. The weather has con- tinued clear of rain, excellent conditions for collecting but very few birds. We have had only one light rain in the evening for the last four days. Mr. Everett visited the France in the evening. November 29 Raised anchor and stood out for the Shortlands. Mr. Beck and I went ashore on a small islet (Redman) at the entrance to Choiseul Bay. We waded over reefs to get to it and took two lesser yellow legs; other common shore birds were about- golden plover and sand-pipers in abundance. Sooty and noddy terns were also plentiful. The island itself was complete- ly surrounded by fringing reef that stretched out to sea in some places for 1/2 mile; the harbor is protected by a barrier reef 3 miles out through which passage can be gained in only one safe place. The island was very low and wet, covered with mangroves near the shore and a few coconuts. It proved to be a haven for the gray pigeon; Mr. Beck shot enough for a meal (6) in a half hour. I collected three white-headed kingfishers and some yellow honeysuckers. Mr. Beck got three gray-headed fly-catchers, a species that has been taken previously on small islands similarly located. The only other birds I observed were the gray-backed shriek and the white- tailed (nikabar) pigeon. Returned to the ship at 11 o'clock and the captain stood out SW by W for the Shortlands. Under sail all afternoon due to engine trouble. Laid to off Oema I., and Oema Atoll for the night with a course set for Fauro I. November 30 Dropped anchor in passage between Fauro I., and Tauno I. in North Bay at 11 A.M. The Doctor and I went ashore for the afternoon. We found a trail that took us about 300 feet up the mountain to the spot where a native had a canoe dug-out in the process of completion. The canoe here is an outrigger, frequently equipped with sails; most of them are dug-outs in contrast to the seamed canoes, sealed with teeta nut putty typical of all the southern islands even to Choiseul. We saw one such canoe equipped with an outrigger at Nyanga on Vella Lavella. We struck just one pocket of small birds in a large tree quite high up. We took a brown fantail, blackhead, both the black-headed and red-breasted fly-catchers, midget,