Smithsonian Institution 
Vaehington 25» D.C. 
Hover, b or 17, 1955 
Mr. ■'illian H. Phelps Jr. 
Apejrtado 2009 
Caracas, Venezuela 
Dear Billy: 
I nr-dslighted to have your letter and especially to loam of tho grand 
prospects following your reconnaissance on the Tepui on the Upper Yatua. I 
can already seo in my mind*8 eye the strange and curious birds that there suet 
be on tho sum it • Let us hope that those we oncountor nay be of standard form, 
and that none will have two bills, three legs or an extra taili 
ith your letter in hand with the memorandum returned relative to outfit, 
I con now proceed. I hove to bo in Cambridge next Monday as a member of the 
visiting Committee of Harvard College on the Museum of Comparative Zoology, 
and will corn© down that night to Mow York following ther.oeting. In New York 
I toill have opportunity to buy the additional items of outfit, including the 
waterproof sheet, etc. 
I note v?hat you say relative to ammunition and will take up Immediately 
the question of the .410 aux. I have always depended until now on .52. 
I am trying to simplify ray collecting supplies so as to avoid trouble in 
travel and customs as mch as possible. Mould it be an imposition on you to 
add one box (25) 16 gunge No.4 and one box (25) 16 guago No .8 to the previous 
list that I sent you. This would take the place of the No.6 shot not available 
in Caracas. I appreciate your kind statement that the previous ammunition 
would be ©on obsoquio de la ColAccion Phelps". I don't want to trespass on 
your good nature but I should bevery happy to pay forth© entire lot. 
I an tremendously busy in clearing up obligations in the identification of 
specimens and the preparation of memoranda (ornithological) that I promised 
tovarious friends, etc., and also in getting my papers and other matters in 
order. If anything new cores up in the plans, please let me Irnow Immediately; 
in the meanwhile I will keep you informed as to my own progress. 
Vith kindest regards to yourself and Kathy, I am. 
Sincerely yours, 
A. '.©tore 
' • 
£ 
