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Van Straelen , V 
Filed: Belgian Congo 
Dr, ?. Van Straelen 
President de l*Institut des 
Parcs Katitaiaux dn Congo Beige 
c/o IMikCf hZf me flontojrer 
Bruxelles, Belgium 
Dear Dr. Van Straelen: 
As you have b<fea inf earned, the Sslthsonian Institution is sponsoring 
the Smithsonian-Bredln Eaqjedition to the Belgian Congo for the purpose of 
collecting and studyii^g primarily the invertebrate life of the mgion: 
the |)arasitic mites and ticks and their host plaints and animals (rodents, 
shrews, bats, aiKi perhaps in sewe cases, unprotected mall birds), Crustacea, 
terrestrial and aquatic, as well as other arthmpods, shells, fish, and 
sucti herpetologioal specteen® as my be pemitted, 
The expeditionary i>arty will consist of six peqsle: a Mr. and Mrs. 
Bmdin of Wilmington, Delawarej Dr. Maldo t. Sdtaitt of this Institution, 
carclnologisti 'Dr. Mward Baker of the United States Departmmt of Agricul- 
ture, acarolofisti Dr. Soy l,ymr» Sexton, medical consultant and j^otographer 
to the party, and his son Hoy lyman Sexton, dr., who will assist his father. 
It so havijens that Kr*. and Mrs. Bredln find it impossible to take part, in 
the expedition at the outset as origimlly planned, but they have Mg*: rsopes 
of being able to Join it at a later date in tte field. 
We Mrite you as President de 1' Institut des l^es Batlonaux du Congo 
Beige as it Is desired to visit several of the Parks under the Jurisdiction 
of your Institut, namely the Garia^a iiational Park, the Albert national Park, 
aiKi the Kagera Mational Park, for the pappose of photo^^pIdLng t^ie wild 
ani^l life there sheltered. In tim first ai^d last named parka guest house 
privileges, if available, are respectfully requested for two nights in each, 
with, of course, the payment of the custwaiy fees for mioh ace<» 2 modatic^s. 
