This is a true story of discovery and discoverers in what was the northern frontier region of Mexico in the years before the Mexican War. In 1826, when the story begins, the region was claimed by both Mexico and the United States. Neither country knew much about the lands crossed by such rivers as the Guadalupe, Brazos, Nueces, Trinity, and Rio Grande. Jean Louis Berlandier, a French naturalist, was part of a team sent out by the Mexican Boundary Commission to explore the area. His role was to collect specimens of flora and fauna and to record detailed observations of the landscapes and peoples through which the exploring party traveled. His observations, including sketches and paintings of plants, landmarks, and American Indians, were the first compendium of scientific observations of the region to be collected and eventually published. Here, historian Russell Lawson tells the story of this multinational expedition, using Berlandier’s copious records as a way of conveying his view of the natural environment. Lawson’s narrative allows us to peer over Berlandier’s shoulder as he traveled and recorded his experiences. Berlandier and Lawson show us an America that no longer exists.

Magnificent outdoors. Roland Wauer found long ago that the two ingredients of nature he enjoyed most were the discovery of new birds and the exploration of the remote habitats where they occur. Since 1966, he has made annual trips into Mexico to pursue these interests. From his adventures he has compiled an indispensable companion for anyone visiting Mexico with an interest in the country's spectacular natural environment. He introduces us to all parts of Mexico's.

To the nature lover, Mexico is a biological paradise, possessing the greatest natural diversity in North America. With only one-fourth the land area of the United States, it possesses as many plant species (some twenty thousand) and many more kinds of animals than its northern neighbor. Yet the tourist attractions of Mexico that are known to most visitors are the cities, the beaches, and the archeological sites. Little is available to guide the visitor through Mexico's magnificent outdoors. Roland Wauer found long ago that the two ingredients of nature he enjoyed most were the discovery of new birds and the exploration of the remote habitats where they occur. Since 1966, he has made annual trips into Mexico to pursue these interests. From his adventures he has compiled an indispensable companion for anyone visiting Mexico with an interest in the country's spectacular natural environment. He introduces us to all parts of Mexico's outstanding diversity, from its arid lowlands and coastal islands to the forested uplands and humid jungles, once home of the ancient Mayans. He offers vivid word pictures of tropical forests and the northern deserts. Twenty-nine color photographs and thirty-nine black-and-white shots provide further reason to explore the flora and fauna that thrive off the beaten path. This unique introduction to Mexico's avifauna--and the rest of its natural environment--is designed to aid either in preparation for a trip or during a trip to Mexico. It offers a fascinating invitation to find, enjoy, and respect the diverse and magnificent world of tropical nature that exists there.