January 27 , 1941. 
Dr. Armando Dugand, 
Director del instituto de Ciencias Naturales 
de la Universidad Nacional, 
Bogota, Colombia. 
Dear Dr. Dugand: 
. . ■■ . ■ 
I am happy to write to congratulate you upon 
your appointment as Director of the Instituto de Ciencias 
Naturales and to extend to you my sincere good wishes in 
your new post. I do not need to tell you that we in the 
Smithsonian Institution have had the friendliest of relations 
with the scientific workers in your Institution, and shall 
look forward to even closer union under your own able director¬ 
ship* Your country offers wonderful opportunities for re¬ 
search in this field and I know of no one more competent to 
direct this valuable work. 
For several years past I have been interested in 
the Goagira Peninsula, especially since the principal birds 
that we have in the National Museum from northern Colombia 
are those that you have sent us from Atlantic© and a few from 
the Santa Marta area. W© have nothing from farther east* It 
is my desire now to arrange a trip to Colombia for the purpose 
of making collections of birds in the Goagira, leaving New York 
on the Steamship "Quirigua" March 5 and arriving at Barranquilla 
March 10. I have asked the State Department to take up the 
necessary arrangements for permits for this work with the 
authorities of your countiy as well as for the Importation of 
my collecting equipment which will include the usual collecting 
guns and ammunition. I would expect to bring with me Mr. M. A. 
Carriker, Jr. whose work in the Santa Marta country is no doubt 
well known to you and to have him with me as assistant. I 
will have to leave the Goagira at the end of April but wish Mr, 
Carriker to continue the work there, and I hope to have him do 
some further collecting for us in the Perijd region. 
It is my plantto come from Barranquilla to Bogota 
for a few days by air and then to return to Santa Marta to make 
the start for the Goagira. I shall hope* therefore, to have 
the opportunity of seeing you in Bogota# 
