Our search for a wilderness : An account of two ornithological expeditions to Venezuela and to British Guiana

Two intrepid naturalists set out at the turn of the twentieth century to explore lands few Western eyes had ever seen. Their first journey takes them up the Orinoco Delta and into the mysterious Pitch Lake region of Venezuela, where towering trees stand alone against endless horizons and the chorus of unseen birds fills the air. Though bird‑collecting is initially a side note, the sheer variety of life they encounter hints at a wilderness still largely untouched by science.

A year later they return, this time to the emerald rainforests and gold‑mine clearings of British Guiana, accompanied by a diligent assistant and the eager help of local guides. Together they amass a remarkable collection of living birds, mammals, and reptiles, documenting the chorus of colors with a small but powerful camera. Their notes capture not just specimens but the spirit of the jungle—its humid trails, welcoming communities, and the quiet awe that follows every new discovery.