May 28, 1940. 
Mr. Ventura Barnes, Jr. 
Curator, Phelps Ornithological Collections, 
Caracas, Venezuela. 
My dear Ventura; 
Your good letter of May 3 has-pleased m very such 
and I have been happy indeed to learn of your recent work, 
but first let m congratulate you and Mrs. Barnes most 
heartily upon the birth of your son, an - event that I know 
has given, you both the greatest of joy. 
Mr. Phelps has been here at the Eighth American 
Scientific Congress and i had several good talks with him. 
He tells toe that you are now in Puerto Rico for a visit with 
your family. I hope to see more of him this summer in Mew 
York as he will be working here throughout the season. 
The Scientific Congress was a great success, be had 
1750 people registered and about 2500 in total attendance! 
295 delegates came to us from Central and Couth America. 
I ms particularly pleased to meet Dr, Till© who 
told me about the trip to Imataca. Also I have just received 
from the Pan American Union the complete volume of the 
nisterio de Foment© that has your Imataca paper. 
The Congress was most interesting to me and I have 
felt deeply the honor shown me in ;ay selection as Secretary 
General, The work was tremendous but was well worth while 
though I am happy now to return to my usual duties here in 
the National Museum. For nearly three months I was able to 
do nothing with my scientific studies. 
X shall stay here now through the summer but hope to 
get away somewhere for a short expedition in October and 
