Thursday 1 October 1955 Bolu Bolu 245 91 274 1 Rattus in traps. A lazy day until Ken & I went down to the coconut plantation. We saw quite a few, but all of our blazing away yielded only 1 bat. However, this is new for the island--a simple-nosed bat such as we found in the coconuts at Menapi. Now have 12 species. Saw another larger bat. Bob got off early this A.M. by boat. Took a letter for Kay with him--next plane on the 13th. Peaks clear. Back for dinner about 7:30. Len waited for us--we had a real chicken dinner: onions; sweet potatoes; English potatoes; Chinese long beans; cooked watercress; & oranges cut up in canned apple sauce. Friday 2 October 246 90 275 Nothing in traps. Made up the bat. The ants found him in my collecting box last night & chewed off an ear & part of his wing membranes, but it measured & made up all right. Sent the boys down to the coconut plantation to look for bat roosting holes in trees. Found none. Wrapped study skins & wet specimens. Ken and I went bat shooting in the plantation again, but there was a poor flight. The sand flies attacked Ken & he couldn't concentrate. I collected one flying squirrel on the way home. We heard another squirrel outside our "donga"--also collected. LikLik brought his traps in today. 1 day-caught Rattus r. Late in afternoon I collected a small grass finch--one which Dr. Mayr wrote was represented by only 1 specimen in the A.M.N.H. Collection. Made it up--not too well. Saturday 3 October 247 89 276 Losima had 1 Mus. in his grass traps. Niko & LikLik went off for our mountain camp today with a couple of carriers. They are going to ready camp for our arrival next Wed. Made up specimens and sorted out equipment for our mountain trip. Quiet day. Sunday 4 October 248 88 277 Isilele brought in traps & another new species for the island--a large Rattus with a tail not unlike our previously caught medium grass rats. This is 13 species to date. A native also brought in 11 lower mandibles of the grassland Wallaby-- all sizes--a good series. Have now found out why they never have complete skulls; they break open the cranium and eat the brain. Al Ramsden showed up in his boat early in A.M. Brought no mail, but he did leave us 4 dozen fairly fresh eggs in exchange for a bottle of rum. Left about noon. Finished packing carrier loads. To bed early. Monday 5 October Bolu Bolu to Wakanai (about 500 ft.) 249 278 Up at 5:30, carriers came at 6 and we were on the trail at 6:30 A.M. heading north along the coast--somewhat inland. We crossed a number of good-flowing mountain streams with sweet-tasting water. Arrived at Wakanai, a pleasantly located foot- hill village, about 9:30 A.M. Sun very hot during last hour. We overlook airstrip which was used during war. Rushing stream just a few feet below the rest house. Spent day loafing & paddling in brook. Tomorrow we start up mountain. We are just under the eastern most of the peaks; this shoots up to 7000 feet. Tuesday 6 October Wakanai to Garuwata #2 village to waterfall camp (840 M.) 250 86 279 Left Wakanai at 6:15 A.M. Started climbing spurs from central mass. We are south of the Garuwata River--peaks lie north. Passed thru one tiny shanty town perched on the knife-edge track. Houses no bigger than our tent & made from corrugated iron that the people have salvaged from war surplus. Views opened up quickly: Vivigani air strip, Amulet Islands to N.E. of Ferguson Is., Seymour Bay. Garden patches cleared on all but the very steepest of slopes. Taro, yams & manioc.