(from the field notes of Wong Yoo-lan, Zoologist, Second Mission to Mok-Tir 2) 08:23:2471 Ah, the rituals of the day! One can almost discern the hour by the activities of the inhabitants of this world! Even the less-developed species are punctilious. I must confess to being homesick for the familiar skies of Nova Terra. Therefore I often arise before dawn to watch the brief sweet flash of blue before the rising sun transforms the sky into a celadon bowl. At this most peaceful time, one can hear the early stirrings of the Rufflits and the deeper drone of Gremilks. Later, one can watch the Spannops warm their membranous parawings in the first light. Despite their bright coloring and solitary lifestyle, the Spannops share some features with bats, most notably ecolocution. They are easily disoriented if several moving bodies share space nearby, and will fumble about blindly until they reach a clearing or stationary area. An untested hypothesis is that this assists mating if the queen is not disturbed. At the first hint of wind, Spannops disappear into the understory. Since wind usually brings rain, this may be proactionary behavior: to keep them from the inevitable chill of wet wings. In the direct radiance of noon, one can see Flikans basking upon the rocks, whereas the Brols will be scurrying towards even shadier nooks. The mid-day heat is oppressive, but appreciated by the cold-blooded. Beside the Flikans, the Arasts and Virasts will be reposing together in any sunny place. The latter appear to be true symbionts. As the afternoon wears on, and shadows lengthen, those who hunt from the shadows manifest themselves. Sometimes all that is seen is an after-image of a quick-moving tongue and a disturbance in the foliage. It was many months of this slow-spinning world before I had a clear view of a Zaurax. Its scaly hide strongly resembles a crumbling chunk of lava (camouflage which is reinforced by an oily prismatic sheen.) I was grateful that it measured a mere 48cm, and that its preferred diet is the grublike Centrades....