November 10, 1949 
Colonel F. A. Petit, 
Box 2031, 
Balboa Heights, Canal Zone. 
My dear Colonel Petit: 
lour address has come to me through Captain L. D. Snell, aide 
to Major General Hale until recently Commanding Officer at Albrook 
Field. Captain Snell may have informed you of the work that I have 
been carrying on for several years relative to studies ol the bird life 
of the Republic of Panama. Last dry season in March and April I made 
collections of birds in the eastern part of the province of Panama, 
and during April used Chepo as a base. The work included collections 
from the continental divide down to the coast from the Mamoni and 
Bayano Rivers west into the eastern section oi the savanna country 
near Pacora. 
In Chepo I made various acquaintances and obtained considerable 
information on the Bayano River valley which was verified subsequently 
by an airplane reconnaissance through the kindness of General Hale. 
In the course of this reconnaissance, I had a good view of the base 
of the low mountains between the Bayano and the Pacific coast which 
intrigued me greatly. Captain Snell tells me that some of your 
parties have gone into this mountain art* and it is my understanding 
that the region has been penetrated up one of the rivers to the north 
of La Palma located at the mouth of the Rio Tuira. Captain Snell 
indicated that you might be willing to advise me on this point and also 
perhaps give me the names of reliable canoe men or helpers in^La Palma 
who mi$it be of assistance whenever I am able to arrange a trip into 
that region. Any information that you can give me will be greatly 
appreciated. 
This coming dry season I shall be somewhat restricted with 
regard to time due to some commitments that are to take me abroad for 
some of the summer. My plans for fieldwork are now in the formative 
stage. I had in mind this year the probability of going over to 
Chepo again and then arranging to go up the Bayano River at least 
