30 Days APRIL 1959 4th Month LETTER: VAN GELDER, MARY TAYLOR. NO TACKING, NO WING-SHOTTING. 9 THURSDAY 99-266 (28) LAE HARD RAIN 9:45 P.M. OVERCAST ALL DAY. RAIN FROM 5 P.M. ON. GOOD LUCK IN BAT NETS: 3 NYCTIMENE, 2 SYCONYCTERIS, 1 MACRO- GLOSSUS (THE LATTER NEAR A FLOWERING TREE JOHN W. TOLD ME ABOUT), NO TRAPS OUT. LIK-LIK + I SPENT WHOLE DAY MAKING UP OUR SPECIMENS. BANDICOOT HAD 3 POUCH YOUNG; SUGAR GLIDER 2. SET 3 NETS FOR MACROGLOSSUS (AT 6 P.M.) JUST BEFORE DINNER MARY WORMES- LEY CALLED TO SAY THAT THE LONG-BEARED ECHIDNA THAT WAS FLOWN IN FROM TELEFOMIN TODAY WAS DEAD. WHAT A BREAK FOR US! IT IS NOW IN THE BOTTOM OF OUR REFRIGERATOR. PLEASANT DAY FOR OUR MOVE. 10 FRIDAY 100-265 (29) LAE TO OOMSIS PACKED OUR BAGS, FOOD + COLLECTING GEAR. LAST ERRANDS IN TOWN. TWO MORE BATS IN NETS (1 NYCTIMENE, 1 SYCONYCTERIS) — NEAR FAGRAEA TREES. I SENT NETS OUT ON FORESTRY TRUCK. MARK SCHULTZ CALLED AT HOUSE AT 2 P.M. TO GIVE US KEY. SHORT RIDE OUT WITH OUR TRAILER BEHIND (22 MILES). CLEANED HOUSE + SETTLED IN. LONG LIVING ROOM ACROSS FRONT. PLENTY OF ROOM FOR EATING + WORKING. LARGE BEDROOM. WE HAVE STRETCHER COTS. WELL SCREENED. KEROSENE REFRIGERATOR. TILLY LAMPS (LIKE CELEMANS). TRAPS + NETS OUT. BOUGHT 1 GREEN TREE PYTHON FROM GAROP, CARETAKER. NO LUCK WING-SHOTTING. VIEW DOWN VALLEY OF SARO WAGED MTS SUNNY, WITH OCCASIONAL BREEZE. 11 SATURDAY 101-264 (30) OOMSIS. CALLED. HAS SHOOT BOY CALLED ZENAG. 20 TRAPS: 1 SMALL ECHYMIPERA; 1 RATTUS EXULANS; 1 RATTUS ROBER; 1 NYCTIMENE IN NETS (3); 1 MELOMYS WHICH I SHOT (IN OUR SINGLE HOLER). LEN + I SHOT NUMEROUS FLASH PICTURES OF ZAGLOSSUS. SKINNING "HER" WAS QUITE A JOB. SHE DIDN'T DIE OF CHANGE OF ALTITUDE, AS JOHN W. VENTURED, BUT FROM BLOWS ABOUT THE SHOULDERS. PICKLED BODY (EXCEPT SKULL). ALBUM ON SKIN, WHICH I SCORED HEAVILY. RESET 3 BAT NETS IN TRAIL TO OOMSIS CREEK. TACKED. RAIN RAIN ALL NIGHT. CLEARING SLOWLY 12 SUNDAY 102-263 (31) OOMSIS LIK-LIK JUST BROUGHT IN HIS TRAPS (20). NO MAMMALS BUT ONE SHORT, THICK SNAKE CAUGHT BY THE HEAD. FINSCH BOY; 1 RATTUS EXULANS (14 TRAPS). NOT 1 BAT IN NETS (3). OUR FIRST MONTH FROM HOME (59 MAMMALs; 50 HERPS). LATE YESTERDAY ZENAG BROUGHT IN A 8" WHITE CUSCUS! GAVE HIM 3 STICKS TOBACO. WORKED ON ZAGLOSSUS SKIN FOR 3 HRS. JOE COLLINS + L. BAKER CALLED. JOHN C. #1 EXPLORED OOMSIS LOGGING ROADS. HEAVY RAIN CAME DOWN AT 6:15. NO TACKING.