for the store windows of the big department store here in town for post- 
Christmas display. We get the birds, and he gets a free collecting trip 
so it works out pretty nicely, if it comes off. 
Incidentally, we had a nice shipment of birds from Mrs. Roberts. 
Everything came through in good shape. Unfortunately, we heard of another 
shipment that she sent to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, that arrived with 
almost total loss. Apparently this was mis-handling between Kennedy and 
Pittsburgh airports. The next shipment that comes in for the Pittsburgh 
aviaries I guess will be routed through us for proper handling. It gets 
most discouraging when these little birds and other animals die during 
shipment. 
Concerning the African safari for the Friends of the National Zoo, they 
seem to be cooking on a very low burner on that particular one. I am not 
pushing it myself. I think it has to develop naturally, otherwise they will 
think that I am forcing them into something. 
I was sorry to hear about the unseasonable weather. Nelson Brown, of 
course, thinks that all you have in the hills is rain, but then what do you 
expect of the tropic mountains? 
It's good to hear that John King is in command of the Capture Committee 
and I hope that he can get it organized. It is interesting, too, about Ken 
Stewart. I have not heard anything from Skunk Irving. I assume that he 
has written you, or perhaps he has ordered animals through the Hunt 
Brothers. I really don't knowfor sure what's happened. I suppose I 
should phone him and find out what the score is. 
I did have the opportunity to meet Perez Olindo when he was here. Nick 
Arundel, son of Russell, is now in charge of the African Leadership 
Foundation, since Judge Russell Train has become Assistant Secretary 
of Interior in Nixon's government. Nick had a cocktail party for the 
group of Kenya National Park Board and National Park officials who 
were touring; I believe there were about twelve of them. I did get to 
meet him, which was nice. I also met four African officials who were 
out at the Zoo for most of the day. I spent several hours with them, but 
do not remember all their names. Most of the time they spent with Don 
Bridgwater, our man in charge of the animal department, and they 
seemed to be having a very nice time. They also seemed to be pleased to 
see the white rhinos that you had caught and the man from Sumbaro 
remembered when you had caught them. All of them seemed to remember 
you with affection and kindness. 
It is nice to know that Julian Tong got his job at the orphanage. I hope 
that he makes a go of it. 
I can imagine that the rhinoceros, after living off the kindness of John 
Seago, was a little bit shocked to find itself back in the wild being 
chased by helicopter, darted, and put into the Nairobi National Park. 
I can really imagine that the animal was most delighted to get home 
again and be in the safety and comfort of its own little corral. It 
