240 (211) FRI. AUG. 28, 1953 125 PERIA RIVER. DOWN TO Z. RATTUS IN TRAPS. LEN SENT NIKO IN TO CAMP ABOUT 10: ASKING FOR HIS SHOT GUN + DUST. WE HAD FOUND 3 TINY BATS HANGING UNDER FLESH PALM LEAF. SHOT IT TURNED OUT TO BE THE SHERAT-TAIL. I SHOT FIRST NIGHT HERE. SUN CAME OUT FOR A WHILE TODAY BUT IT IS RAINING AGAIN TONIGHT. KEN & I WENT OUT HACKING ON A NEW TRAIL THAT GOT AFAR CUTTING WEST TO THE BAKUP RIVER. VERY GLUED IN WITH WICKED THICKETS OF LAWYER VINE. SHOT 1 MELOMYS ON GROUND + A LONG-TAILED KINGFISHER THAT I THOUGHT WAS A BAT. ALSO FIRED AT A FLYING SQUIRREL IN LARGE TREE. DIDN'T THINK HE CAME DOWN. TRAIN SENT US HOME. HAD LAMP GOING ALL DAY IN TENT. SKINS DRYING VERY WELL. 241 212 SAT. AUG. 29 124 PERIA RIVER. THE END OF OUR 23 WEEKS OF FIELD WORK. SPECIMEN TOTAL: 1547. AND THIS P.M. (LATE) DAVID CAME IN WITH DIRESTELIS THE BOWLAND SCROB WALLABY THAT HAS ELUDED US FOR THE PAST SEVERAL WEEKS. A YOUNG MALE, BLUE GRAY PELAGE, LONG FACED, SHORT STRIGHT TAIL. ONLY 2 YOUNG RATTUS THIS AM. BOTH CAUGHT IN THE SAME TRAP. HOWEVER, SOME T. BINIGUNI BOYS THROUGH IN A MELOMYS & A POOGONOMYS. PACKED A BLACK BOX TO GO OUT ON NEXT MONDAY'S HARRY TO KWAGIRA. WRAPPED ALL MY WET SPECIMENS FOR SHIP- MENT. ALSO WRAPPED DRY STUDY SKINS. THE LAMP BURNING IN THE TENT EACH DAY HAS HELPED THE DRYING. POLICE RUNNER IN WITH LOCAL MAIL FROM SAMARAI. NO PARTICULAR NEWS. BOUGHT MORE VEGETABLES USING SALT. PIGEON (FINE FLAVOR) + A WONDER- FUL BAKED TARO FOR DINNER TONIGHT. NO HACKING. WROTE HAROLD BUGA + "DORY". SENDING 1 FILM OUT. KEN STARTED OPENING 12 GUAGE SHELLS UP TODAY. TRYING TO DEVISE SHOT TO KILL PIGEONS IN HIGH TREES. EVIDENTLY SUCCEEDED BECAUSE HE COLLECTED OUT SUNDAY NIGHT DINNER. GEOFF STILL CUTTING TRAP IN THE WEST. SHOWERS + SUN TODAY. 242 (213) SUN. AUG. 30 123 PERIA RIVER. HAD THE CAMP TO MYSELF THIS AIM. LEN, GEOFF + KEN WENT UP TO OPAIGWARI TO TAKE PICTURES OF DANCERS WHO HAVE BEEN OUR CARRIERS. MEN FROM BINIGUNI CAME TOO. MANY HAD BIRD-OF-PARADISE HEAD DRESSES. MY BOYS + I STAYED HOME + WORKED ON SPECIMENS. GEOFF + KEN BACK FOR LUNCH. WE TIED UP LOADS FOR THE 10 CARRIERS WHO ARRIVE TOMORROW. LEN