SUNDAY APR. 11, 1948 HIDES CAIRNS HOTEL A BEAUTIFUL DAY! THE DAY OF MY FIRST VISIT TO THE GREAT BARRIER REEF. I HAD SEEN GREEN ISLAND EACH TIME I STOPPED AT THE KURANDA ROAD LOOKOUT - A LOW GREEN DOT ON THE HORIZON. A SMALL EXCURSION BOAT (MAINE SIZE) - THE "MALITA" LEFT CAIRNS AT 9:30. VERY CALM SEA. TOOK PICTURES (MOVING + STILL) OF THE TABLELAND SCARP & PEARTS. WE RAN OUT OF HARBOUR PAST FALSE CAPE, BY THE BAY AT THE HEAD OF WHICH IS A LARGE ABO MISSION STATION (MRS. MCLEOD'S CORAL & SHELL DIVER LIVES THERE), PAST CAPE GRAFTON - THE N.E.LY EXTENSION OF THE COASTAL RANGE S.E. OF CAIRNS. A LARGE TERN WITH THE HEAVY BILL OF A CASPIAN - COMMON NEAR THE ISLAND; MEDIUM SLATE TERN WITH WHITE CAP; SLATY-BLUE HERON - YELLOW IRIS, LEGS & FEET, CHALKY BLUE BILL; WHITE REEF HERON - ALL OVER THE EXPOSED REEF FLATS. ARRIVED AT 11:15 - LOOKED FOR SHELLS, COLLECTED SAND SAMPLE - TOOK 12: GLASS-BOTTOM BOAT. MUCH CORAL NEAR WHARF - OF MANY SPECIES, SHAPES, COLORS. REEF FISH DODGING AMONG THE CORAL GROWTHS, SEA-URCHINS WITH FOOT-LONG BLACK SPINES & 5 REFLECTING EYE SPOTS - I VERY LARGE GIANT CLAM, BY ITSELF ON A SAND BOTTOM. LUNCH AT THE KIOSK FOR 3 S. - REEF FISH FRIED IN BATTER. INTO MY BATHING SUIT & THEN OUT TO THE BEACH WHERE THE TIDE WAS ON WAY OUT! THE "NIGGER-HEADS" MARKING THE EDGE OF THE REEF WERE SHOWING - THESE ARE BLOCKS OF CORAL THROWN UP AT THE SURF LINE. WITH SNEAKERS ON I WALKED OVER THE FLAT CORAL BEDS - NOW ONLY ANKLE-DEEP IN WARM WATER. 4 SP. OF SEA CUCUMBER - YADE GREEN W. ITNOBS - LONG, BLACK, ANCHORED IN THE CORAL BY ONE END - WHITE (SAND COAT) WITH BACKGROUND BLACK SHOWING THRU IN PATTERN - LARGE SANDY COLORED, CUCUMBER GIRTHED. MOST AMAZING IN COLOR - THE NUMEROUS INDIGO STAR FISH, SAND CRABS EXACTLY THE COLOR OF THEIR BACKGROUND. PETAL LIKE SPONGES. SMALL GIANT CLAMS EMBEDDED IN THE CORAL - BEAUTIFUL SPOTS OF BRILLIANT EMERALD (15") GREEN ON THE EDGES OF THE MANTEL. A SMALL CARPET SHARK WITH 2 BLACK PATCHES ON BACK - STRANDED IN CORAL POOL: A CONE POISON SHELL. A CRIMSON RED ROSE PETAL SHAPED SPONGE OR SEA ANEMONE. A WONDERFUL DAY! MET A MRS. MCLEOD - A CORAL COLLECTOR - ON BOAT COMING HOME. INVITED TO SEE COLLECTION. TO COCKTAIL PARTY GIVEN BY DUPAIN - MR. DE BURNS PHILP. TO MUSEUM AFTER DINNER TO MUSEUM DRY SPECIMENS.