Over tropic seas and into the jungles of New Guinea, a campsite at the edge of a rain forest serves as home base for a guided tour of the entire area from the natural historian's point of view. The rare birds who show their bright plumage in the daylight hours, the strange animals that appear at night are all new to the western explorer. The technique of preserving specimens and observing native life is one of the many aspects of preparation developed ahead of time. How this kind of expedition differs from a safari or a hunting trip illuminates the work of natural historians while providing fascinating information on life in this primitive culture. A negative feature are strident illustrations, too smooth and commercialized to seem authentic.