293 (264) TUES. OCT 20 TOP CAMP. THE MOON IS ALMOST FULL TONIGHT AND LOSIMA + I HAD A PLEASANT WALK ALONG THE EAST TRAIL. OWLS + NIGHTHARAS + ALL MANNER OF FROGS WERE CALLING. AT ONE POINT ON THE TRACK WE HEARD FRUIT FALL + LI SOURBIES INTO THE BUSH. LOCATED A CUSCUS WHICH I COLLECTED. OUR HUNTER HAD A SLOW DAY, FINDING ONLY 1 CUSCUS + 2 DOBSONIA. THE DAY'S PREPARATION WORK WAS VERY TEDIOUS; ONE OF THE BANDICOOTS WAS SO BADLY TORN BY THE DOG THAT IT REQUIRED OVER AN HOUR OF SEWING. THE OTHER BANDICOOT DOBSONIA MADE UP WITHOUT TROUBLE BUT I HAD TO CHECK OVER BOTH WALLABY SKINS AGAIN. LEN HAD A LONG MORNING, COLLECTED WHAT HE BELIEVES TO BE A NEW GENUS OF PALM. NO LUCK AT BAT SHOOTING TONIGHT. I AM RECORDING + COLLECTING "HERBS" NOW THAT GEOFF HAS LEFT. LEN IS DOING A FEW "MICROS." DELICIOUS DUMPLINGS + PINEAPPLE FRITTERS TONIGHT. NOTHING IN OUR NEW TRAP LINES IN THE VALLEY STREAM. 294 (265) WED. OCT. 21, 1953 TOP CAMP. OUR HUNTER TURNED UP WITH ANOTHER CUSCUS + A F DOBSONIA WITH A YOUNG ONE STILL ATTACHED BY THE UMBILICAL CORD. ANOTHER IMMATURE M CAPTURED IN SAME TREE. NOTHING IN TRAPS. FOUND A VACCINIUM - LOVELY PINK BELL FLOWERS - TO WHICH MANY BIRDS ARE ATTRACTED (EVEN A PARROT WAS FEEDING THERE). MOST OF THE DAY WAS SPENT SKINNING + PREPARING MATERIAL + TRYING TO DRY OUT LARGE SKINS. THE SUN WAS OUT MOST OF THE TIME. CLOUDS + A SHOWER OF RAIN CAME OVER AT DINNER TIME - JUST ENOUGH TO SPOIL THE HACKING. LOSIMA + I CAUGHT A FEW FROGS INCLUDING THE ONE THAT MAKES THE SHRIK PIPING - VERY SMALL. AND GO TO BED WITH AN OLD N.Y.H.TRIB. BOOK REVIEW SECTION TO READ. 295 (266) THURS. OCT. 22 TOP CAMP. LOSIMA HAD HIS TURN AT CATCHING A RATTUS. HUNTER WAS IN EARLY - THIS TIME WITH HIS 6TH WALLABY. HE GETS A FEW FOR THE FIRST H + A DRUM OF SALT FOR THE OTHER H. THE DOGS STARTED THIS WALLABY NEAR THE STREAM BELOW US. SHOT ANOTHER SCARLET + BLACK HONEY EATER - THIS TIME I MADE A GOOD SKIN. STARTED MY PICKING FOR OUR SATURDAY MORNING SKINS NOT DRY. HOPE WE HAVE PLANT OF SUN AT NEXT CAMP. FULL MOON TONIGHT BUT A WARM COTTON MIST WAS SWIRLING IN THE TREES SPOILING OUR HACKING. SO WE COLLECTED FROGS AGAIN. THE HONEY EATER WAS ON THE VACCINIUM. FIRST HORNBILL FLEW OVER CAMP TODAY. NOW 7 MONTHS IN FIELD.