UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
BUREAU OF BIOLOGICAL SURVEY 
WASHINGTON, D. C. 
ADDRESS REPLY TO 
CHIEF, BUREAU OF fiJOLOGICAl. SURVEY, 
ANJ REFER TO 
February 11, 1921. 
D 
Dr. Alex Wetmore, 
c/o Consul-General of the United States, 
Calle Lavalle 341, 
Buenos Aires, Argentina. 
Dear Dr. Wetmore: 
Four letters from you, two dated January 7 and two 
January 13, are just received. 
I am very glad to learn that after having considered 
Dr. Chapman’s offer, you have decided to remain with the Biological 
Survey. I have already given you a summary of conditions in the 
Survey and personally feel that your decision will he in line 
with your best interests. I shall he glad to have you finish a 
complete report on the present investigation, which is of great 
importance in connection with the work of the Bureau, and to have 
you continue the work upon which you were engaged when you left 
for South America. 
Your letters as usual contain much of great interest con¬ 
cerning conditions and additions to the collections you are making. 
The determination of the existence of an extensive migration route 
for shore birds south, along the Rio Paraguay is an important point 
you say you have worked out, hut the scarcity of birds in what nas 
been considered their main winter home in the pampas is, as you say, 
disappointing. However, it seems clear that they winter farther south 
in Patagonia, where owing to few human inhabitants they are probably 
safe. You will have an opportunity to witness much of the northward 
migration before you leave. 
. / 
I am especially anxious to have specimens of the rabbits 
from localities you visit, and also of the grisons which are exceed¬ 
ingly rare in collections, and I am cabling you today to make efforts 
to secure them wherever possible, and,as already indicated, represen¬ 
tative collections of mammals in general should be made in each re¬ 
gion visited. Bats, especially, which can be secured with a minimum 
of effort, should be collected at every opportunity. 
