promontory known as White Cliffs. Only two specimens seen, and both badly shot up by George. Tomb bats (Taphyzous), which clamped them- selves closely to the walls of the fissure and refused to be disturbed by noise or the flashing of a head lamp. Monday March 15 In all churches in Brisbane yesterday prayers were offered for the strike to end. According to Howard Smith Lt., agents for the Time, nothing has happened yet. George was picked up by Abbiss of Main Roads about 9 am and left for Devil Devil Ck., on top of the Dividing Range, between Mossman and Julatten. He will stay with a farmer. Main object of trip - a search for Hypsoprymnodon. Expects to return to Cairns on Friday. Tonight I am in the Mossman Gorge with Geoff and Van. Gil Bates, visiting Mossman for a few days on pest control work, drove me to Moss- man, and on to the powerhouse in the gorge after supper. Bates was also good enough to lend me a camp cot and bedding, to which Mrs. Bates added sheets and a pillow. Have my cot on the dirt-floored verandah of the eretaker's quarters. Geoff and Van are in a tent borrowed from Main Roads. A camp with modern conveniences - electric light, stove and jug, plus a rather antiquated telephone. Was amazed to find in camp a woman, a Mrs. Maggs of Mossman, who had walked out from the town with a lunch basket and spent the day in the gorge reading Huxley's book on the voyage of the Rattlesnake. Un- usual sort of person; student of history of exploration in the North. Before returning to town with Bates, she told of a woman in the Kennedy district, who, about two years ago, shot a strange beast in her chicken house which no one in the area could identify. A marsupial tiger thinks Maggs. The lady buried the beast. Maggs offered to ask the lady to oll up the remains and send them to us. Tuesday March 16 Over an inch of rain last night and more very heavy showers this afternoon. Rubbed soap on my ankles before going out botanizing in morning, but as I ate lunch a big black leech, gorged with blood, rolled down my leg to the ground. Geoff picked up several leeches too. The rain washed the bait off Van's traps and over 50 sets yielded but one common grey rat. A morning in the rain-forest, at the intake mile above the powerhouse, gave me 24 numbers of plants, mostly mosses. Among four spp. of Hymenophyllaceae, all small plants from the granite rocks, was a beautiful little thing with flabelliform leaves barely 1 cm broad. Geoff wielding his net with pleasing enthusiasm and showing good promise as an insect collector. Chasing dragonflies along the creek, catching butterflies in open places in the forest - where lantana grows, and turning over rubbish for beetles. Wednesday March 17 Heavy rain last night and more this afternoon brought the total since Monday evening to almost 5½ inches. River running with force, but clear. It drains country which has not been disturbed by cultivation.