Sunday 31 May 1953 (cont) in forest. Light rain probably spoiled bait again. Boys built a bark overhang on one end of the work fly—the end the rain beats in. Now very dark even with bark door open. Len is doing plant work in 1/2 of my tent. He usually sleeps and works in a tent of his own. Geoff and I will bunk in together at the next camp. Walked around jacking trail in P.M. Mist swirling thru the trees. No wonder the ferns and mosses are everywhere in profusion. Did a recapitulation of all specimens collected to date. A relatively restful day for me. Monday 1 June Top Camp Another wet trap night and Isilele turned in the only Rattus. Salvaged a skin and skull out of the shot-up bat. A leisurely morning for a change. Better weather today. A few clouds drifting into camp but no rain and occasional sun- shine. Boys off hunting all day but no luck. David had a long shot at a Wallaby but missed. Spent part of this P.M. setting steel traps and walking over my jacking trails. The end of one path leads to a huge Hoop pine standing on the edge of a steep ravine down which a small brook tumbles over rock ledges. Wrote letter to Dr and Mrs. Lord. 5:45 P.M. and getting close to bat-shooting time. Hope they show up tonight. Sun sets in camp at 4 P.M. Unpinned a few more skins. Geoff and I took advantage of a patch of sun after lunch to take a bath. 10 P.M. My luck is still holding: went down into ravine in back of camp and noticed small bat going over and over same flight path—added him to collection; Kim saw bat up the hill circling the big pine trees—when I climbed up to top saw others flying against sunset—shot one and saw it fall but could not find. Took 5 of the boys up after dinner and Jimmy soon found it at the place I had marked in the grass. Both Miniopterus—anxious to compare measurements with lowland M. Beautiful orange glow sunset behind Goropu. Pines also outlined. Clouds in the river gorge but bright and clear at camp. Went jacking (took Isilele) from 7:30–9:00: Coll. 1 green possum and 1 yg. ♂brown-headed possum (sitting on vine and looked like small owl)—very thick woolly fur. David out, too, but found nothing. Back to camp. Geoff and Len collecting moths on outside of tent (light traps inside). Measured possums while relaxed. Want to compare with morning after measurements. Looks like good weather tomorrow. Need 1 more sunny day to dry specimens. Tuesday 2 June Top Camp A lovely clear day. Cold last night but I slept warm. Lik Lik brought in 1 Melomys and 2 Rattus (gray-b.). No one else had anything in traps. David has reset his trap line today. Jimmy went down towards the river scrub this A.M. and did not get back until 3 P.M. Brought in a ♂ brown-headed ring tail with a large ♂pouch young that just about filled the pouch. Both alive, but no sun to take pictures. Yound made a squeaky chattering (raspy) that sounded like a bird scolding. Have the ♂ in a plastic bag hoping that parasites will hopoff. Have collected a fair number up here for the U.S. Public Health Service. They are studying possible disease vectors. Drying went well today and I unpinned a few more specimens. A native came into camp today. Member of a village hunting party (with dogs!). They are on the mountain across the Kwariu River. Have killed 10 Tree Kan—they smoke the meat to take home—and 2 spiny anteaters ! He has promised to bring us some specimens for tobacco. I hope so ! We certainly need a man with a good hunting dog to get the rarer large specimens. Kim was very helpful as translator. I have the Daga language names for most of the local animals. This man from Bonenau—brother of Gov. interpreter who came up to top camp with us. Jacking tonight. Saw nothing for first time, but ran into mystery. Could hear some animal feeding in leafy top of tree. Cry something like flying fox. But when I fired shot nothing flew. Fruit (?) dropping to ground. Stayed there for over 1/2 hr. Light getting dim so I came home. Geoff has the light trap in my tent. Not many micros tonight. Hope the