29 



them. Their method is on finding one in a tree, to build a sort 

 of brush yard round it a few feet from the roots ; one of the 

 natives then climbs up until he is above the animal, which he 

 compels by pelting it with sticks to descend to the ground, where 

 being unable to jump any height it is easily killed with waddies. 

 The natives say they will bite, but we are inclined to think the 

 fence is rather to prevent their getting away, or as a protection 

 against their fore paws, of which the claws are very strong and 

 sharp. The habits and movements of this animal appear to be 

 like those of the native bear ; so far as we saw they did not show 

 any great activity amongst the branches, and they come down a 

 tree backwards making no use of their very long tail. Their 

 tracks were generally seen on leaning trees, but one animal was 

 shot from a tree that was practically perpendicular. We had no 

 means of ascertaining the altitude of the ranges where the 

 specimens were obtained, but should say not less than 4,000 feet, 

 and they appear to frequent very rough country. 



There was nothing in the paunch of any of the specimens but 

 leaves. 



D. lumholtzi and the various I'seudochirus were in splendid 

 condition up to August, after which the fur on the latter began 

 to get ragged and worn. 



On the 25th Augu.st Mr. Cairn left the camp for the Upper 

 Russell River diggings, situated 28 miles S.E. of Boar Pocket, 

 and being joined there by Mr. Hanson with his native troopers 

 and four " myalls,"* started all heavily packed for a trip to the 

 top of Mount Bartle-Frere. The country is exceedingly rough, 

 and being all scrub a track had to be cut, but they made a camp 

 within a few hundred feet of the top of the mountains on the 

 28th, but not without difficulty as two of the natives gave in. 

 They were again unfortunate in the weather, being enveloped in 

 mist nearly all the time. They obtained seven of the new Bower 

 Bird Frionodura newtoniana, and saw several of their bowers. 

 The sides of the bowers are built round two saplings chosen about 

 two feet apart, and are constructed of small twigs laid horizontally 

 and loosely built together ; the walls are raised to a height of 

 from three to seven feet, and are semi-oval in shape. In two of 

 the bowers at a height of about nine inches from the ground, was 

 a sort of hedge from wall to wall. The flat inner sides of the 

 walls of the bower were decorated in each instance with white 

 oi'chid blossoms. In two cases one of the walls was raised con- 

 siderably higher than the other. xlccompanying is a rough 

 sketch of one of the bowers, which will give a fair idea of the 

 construction. 



The rainfall is very heavy on Mts. Bartle-Frere and Bellenden- 

 Ker. 



* Wild aborigines. 



