Yet enough had been collected to show me that with time and fine weather I might expect to do something good.

From the natives I obtained some very fine insects and a few pretty land-shells; and of the small number of birds yet shot more than half were known New Guinea species, and therefore certainly rare in European collections, while the remainder were probably new.

In one respect my hopes seemed doomed to be disappointed.

I had anticipated the pleasure of myself preparing fine specimens of the Birds of Paradise, but I now learnt that they are all at this season out of plumage, and that it is in September and October that they have the long plumes of yellow silky feathers in full perfection.

As all the praus return in July, I should not be able to spend that season in Aru without remaining another whole year, which was out of the question.