Wednesday 10 June (cont) Top Camp I had 1 large Melomys in my trap line. Total of ll for the day. This P.M. David went out looking in tree holes and came back with 6 Pogonomys! Too late to measure and skin so I have a good start on tomorrow. We are lucky to get some of these little tree-climbing rats because this species has not trapped. A bright day with only an occasional cloud drifting into our pocket. Unpinned Mt. Maneau specimens today. Another day or two will see my total reach 700 for trip and over 200 for camp. A black bird (about size of robin) with vivid yellow on head (looked like black eye streaks also). Geoff had another beautiful moth in trap this morning--green with scallloped design. 9:30 P.M. Have just come in from a frustrating evening of jacking. First I walked within a few feet of a Wallaby without seeing him until he jumped into the scrub. Then on 3 occasions I heard the soft high-pitched grunting of what I am sure are giant rats. Twice I could hear them chewing on wild figs that had fallen to the ground and once I saw one running thru the undergrowth. No chance for a shot. No ring-tails tonight. David was out earlier and brought in a Wallaby. This makes our 100th Marsupial for the trip (about 15 % of my total). Geoff has a light trap in my tent tonight and is sitting in here reading. Have some work to do in my notebook. Thursday 11 June Tonight the mystery animal of last night put in an appearance at the edge of camp. Len was walking around the tent looking for moths when he heard the leaves rustle. He called me and I found one of the giant rats (Uromys anak) about 15 ft. up in a small tree. Shot her with .410 (#12). Was making the high pitched grunt that I have heard before. This is specimen #200 from this camp. This afternoon while I was making up skins I heard Jimmy chopping up in the scrub. Isilele, Kim and I went up to help. Jimmy had found another hole full of Pogonomys--6 of them this time (including 2 young). Rain in A.M. and early P.M. clearing later. Lik Lik sick--don't know if Isilele ran his traps or not. Only 6 Rattus today in addition to the Wallaby and David's 6 Pogonomys. Geoff had a fine menu tonight. Soup and crackers, bacon & yams, real cocoa & a cookie for me & some Army chocolate; also fresh baked bread & strawberry jam. Walked up the hill to look for early-flying bats and saw the lowest sunset yet. Goropu was indigo against a yellow and orange sky--the valley between filled with a sea of milky- white almost translucent clouds. The high clouds overhead were tinged rose color. The yellow glow lasted for a long time. Kim helped Isilele skin the Wallaby today--the boys Kaied the body. Kim caught one Rattus today. Is asking for more traps. Clear & cold tonight. Boys singing & clapping. Friday 12 June A long day at the skinning table: 6 Pogonomys, 1 Melomys, 1 wh.-b. Rattus, 1 Uromys, 6 gr.-b. Rattus. Lik Lik was back on the job so the skinning went very quickly. All skulls cleaned by noon. All made up by 4 P.M. One of my concealed steel traps caught a scrub hen (Megapode); if it had not broken its leg, I would have released it. Saved the head, 1 leg & 1 wing; gave the rest to Kim who made a fine stew for lunch. Jimmy shot a large pigeon in A.M. & we had another stew tonight. Poor Geoff doesn't think much of our game diet. Showered off and on today but clear tonight. Weeds were wet for jacking but there was lots of activity in the wild fig trees. Heard a number of Giant Rats but saw none. Nothing collected today by boys. Len hurt his shoulder a few days ago and he is somewhat handicapped in his field collecting. However, his boys go out & usually bring in some good material. One found 3 new ferns--it seems as if there is no end of them. Geoff is getting very restless up here.