(CONT. #1) 168 (139) WED. 17 JUNE 1953 197 Top Camp. My other notebook has run out so will continue in my Field Book. Another good specimen day - 13 (1 Ring-tail, 3 Melomy, 2 WH-8 Rats, 7 Gr.D. Rattus). Makes 58 for 1st 4 days of this week. A beautiful Clear sunny day following a cold night. Specimens dried well - unpinned A few more. All traps came in today except a few of my steels. Billy came in from frog hunting with a Miniopterus which he found under Barkonia tree, and late this P.M. my luck was in again. I had walked up to the top of the hill to watch & photograph the sunset sky behind Goropu; and to try for bats. Crystal clear horizon. Was just about to return to camp when I saw a bat coming along the ridge high & fast. A long but perfect shot gave me another new species for the collection. Do not know generic name but it is a free- tail bat (Molossidae). Large, chocolate brown, big ears. Now have 18 species for camp here - 270 specimens. Collected its parasites - 2 fleas + 1 wingless fly. An exciting catch. Len also had good luck. It sure he has a new genus of large flowering tree. An important find. No hacking tonight. Will do as much specimen packing as I can tomorrow, 169 (140) THURS. 18 JUNE 1953 196 Top Camp. Made up my 7 bats in A.M. Unpinned more specimens + wrapped dry ones. Finally put 176 skins in the knockdown box - filled it. Have 82 more to fit in some place (possibly to the black boxes). Also counted, sorted & packed skulls in the jam & butter cans I have saving. Will carry only a few damp skins down to 2nd or middle camp. Rest will go down by carriers to Biniguni. Walked up to see the sunset tonight. Low cloud sea in valleys. Wonderful yellow & orange skies behind Goropu. I never tire of this scene. Stayed until the Southern Cross shone out clear. Only Miniopterus flying. No luck. New brown bread tonight - good! Boys out most of day but I don't think they tried very hard to find anything. Clear & cold again to night. Carriers come up to 412 camp tomorrow while we finish packing. Tacking for an hour. Shot at a wallaby but did not get him. Woods rather quiet. Still giant rats but little else left. 190 (141) FRIDAY 19 JUNE 1953 195 Top Camp. Our final full day in camp. Very hot after the sun was well up. Perfect for drying the rest of my specimens. Wire-strapped my knock- down box (176 specimens) + wrapped in tarpaulin for transport to Biniguni. Will carry skulls + more skins to 2nd camp & pack in 1/2 empty black box there. All skulls dry & packed. We are all ready to strike camp tomorrow. Walked north-west along the ridge this P.M. to take Kodachromes of Mt Maneau & the Goropu peaks. The lowlands to N. & Collingwood Bay