Page:George K Cherrie, 4 letters from Brooklyn, New York, USA, Mar-Sep 1902.pdf/1

 27 Fairview Place, Brooklyn, N.Y.U.S.A. March 24 1902

Mr Ernst Hartert Zoological Museum Tring, England,

My dear Mr Hartert;

I have delayed answering your letter in an effort to get some accurate information regarding French Guiana before giving you a definite reply. But acurate information regarding that part of South America seems to be at a premium! And up to the present time I have learned almost nothing - of seasons, expense of living, roads, means of transportation from point to point, etc., and a call at the office of the French Consul General in this city added little or nothing to my stock of information. Immediately after the receipt of your letter I wrote to the American Consul at Cayenne but as yet have no reply.

Cayenne has the reputation of being a very unhealthful country and that with the fact that you agree to take only six specimens of every species collected made your offer somewhat less attractive that when I went to the Orinoco. However as I am anxious to get back into the field, and as I am sure that the locality will prove interesting, I have determined to accept your proposition. It is easy to see the force of your argument as to why a collection from Cayenne would be interesting and valuable. I have myself often thought of the desirability of collecting in that region but previously have always dismissed the project owing to the countries bad name.

I will go to Cayenne (French Guiana) and will send you the first only scientific collection of any considerable size that has ever been made in that country.

I appreciate the honor you do me in dedicating some of hte new birds from the Orinoco collection, to me. I look forward with interest to seeing the completed article.

I will make my preparations to go to Cayenne the last of September or early in October, and if I can secure the services of a really good man as an assistant I will take some one with me from New York. I think that I will be able to send you satisfactory specimens of butterflies and moths. I will communicate immediately with Mr. Oldfield Thomas and try to make arrangement for the sale of the mammals that I may secure. I am greatly indebted to you for your kindness in arranging for the sale of so many of my duplicate birds.

Very truly yours Geo. K. Cherrie