PREFACE 



THIS is an account of a zoogeographic reconnois- 

 sance through the BraziUan hinterland. 

 The official and proper title of the expedi- 

 tion is that given it by the Brazilian Government: Ex- 

 pedicao Scientifica Roosevelt-Rondon. When I started 

 from the United States, it was to make an expedition, 

 primarily concerned with mammalogy and ornithology, 

 for the American Museum of Natural History of New 

 York. This was undertaken under the auspices of 

 Messrs. Osborn and Chapman, acting on behalf of the 

 Museum. In the body of this work I describe how the 

 scope of the expedition was enlarged, and how it was 

 given a geographic as well as a zoological character, in 

 consequence of the kind proposal of the Brazilian Secre- 

 tary of State for Foreign Affairs, General Lauro Miiller. 

 In its altered and enlarged form the expedition was ren- 

 dered possible only by the generous assistance of the 

 Brazilian Government. Throughout the body of the 

 work will be found reference after reference to my 

 colleagues and companions of the expedition, whose 

 services to science I have endeavored to set forth, and 

 for whom I shall always feel the most cordial friendship 



and regard. 



Theodore Roosevelt. 



Sagamore Hill, 



September 1, 1914. 



