L. 19. P. I. Thursday, June 18. The plane has just left (2 p.m.). She completed her first air delivery with complete success as I said in letter #17. Also the first nature has brought in the first specimen — a snake. So in the next few weeks we may get quite a lot of material. Russell was telling us some of the tales their "aeroplane toy" has been telling around Dane: of the marvellous things they had found in the interior, tanks and motor cars, and great open spaces populated by thousands of pigs which when the plane dived at them scattered in in all directions. Spent nearly an hour up the tree-ladder this evening. Was rewarded by getting a view of the mountains beyond the Strickland, showing pale blue-gray above the eastern end of Blücher. Mt Sarek eventually came out and I saw most of its crest line. The cargo delivered by plane, by the way, were 900 lbs making 5 loads, two of which were parachute loads, the other rice (small bags enclosed in big loose bags); and the time occupied in circling and throwing the stuff out of the plane was 14 minutes. Friday, June 19. Last evening entirely clear & starlit. This morning back to fog and rain. Traps m.g. today. Went out along V.S. trail. Got off quick shot at currawong as it slipped through the forest like a giant red-and-blue-necked chicken. I didn't hit it home as it glided behind a great tree-trunk and never reappeared. Bumped into another damned warpi' nest and in knocking the creatures, if not broken frame of my plane... Have had to repair that with piece & wire. The local people have brought in a few birds this morning. Hope to have some mammals from them also during