Caracas, Venezuela 
January 1, 1954 
Mr. Elvin Seibert 
First Secretary 
Embassy of the United States of America 
Panam4 City, Panama 
Dear Mr. Seibert: 
The present moment finds me opening the lew Year with final 
preparations for a trip to the Upper Orinoco and the edge ©f th© 
Amazonian forest to the south. I am travelling with friends living 
in this city, and weaare due t© shove off tomorrow morning in a 
Catalina that will take us to Esmeralda near the head of the Braz© 
Casiquiare. 
This trip is estimated to take five weeks or so, after which I 
will cross to Panamfi to continue my work on the survey of the bird 
life of that country, travelling this time to Chiriqui. Before 1 
left Washington, we sent over t® the State Department, under the sig¬ 
nature of the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, the usual 
letter outlining the work I expect to do. For your own information 
I enclose a copy. I hop© that there will be no confusion in securing 
a letter fro m the Ministerio de Relacion.es Ixteriores, which is the 
only facility that I will need. 
I have great anticipations of the work ahead of me here in Vene¬ 
zuela and of the continuation in the Chiriqui mountains. 
Looking forward to seeing you some time during the first half 
of Fbbnuary, and with best wishes for the Mew Year, I am. 
Sincerely 7 /ours, 
End. 
A. Wet, more 
Research Associate 
