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ITINERARY OF 
MR. G. C. CHAMPION’S TRAVELS IN CENTRAL AMERICA, 
1879-1883. 
THE only detailed itinerary supplied by any of our collectors is that of Mr. G. C. 
Champion, who, it must be remembered, devoted almost the whole of his time 
to entomology. A brief account of the numerous Guatemala and Panama localities 
he visited will be of interest to entomologists. His expedition to Central America 
extended from March 16th, 1879-May 28rd, 1883. The itinerary of his travels *, which 
is here reproduced with additional details, appeared in the American ‘ Entomological 
News’ for February 1907, pp. 33-44. The Guatemala routes are shown on Map 8. 
During his stay in that country, March 16th, 1879-April 7th, 1881, he investigated 
both the Pacific and the Atlantic slopes, the central plateau, &c. From August 10th, 
1879-July 26th, 1880, he made his headquarters at San Gerdnimo, six miles from 
Salama, and made many distant expeditions to various parts of Alta and Baja Vera Paz 
from that place. The central plateau was traversed from Salama (vid Rabinal, 
Cubulco, Joyabaj, and Quiché) to Quezaltenango, and also from the latter place to the 
Capital. The Pacific slope was explored from La Gavia to the Mexican frontier of 
Chiapas, at elevations between 1000 and 4000 feet. The ports of San José and 
Champerico, the lagoons at Paso Antonio, and the lakes of Amatitlan and Atitlan 
were visited. The Volcan de Agua was ascended on January 13th, 1881. In Vera 
Paz, the Rio Dolores, near Cubilguitz, on the Coban—Peten road, was reached; and 
the Polochic Valley was twice visited, once by boat from Panzos as far as the Lake of 
Yzabal. An expedition was also made across the Chuacus range of mountains from 
San Gerénimo to Tocoy in the Motagua valley. Mr. Champion is of opinion that, 
from what he saw of the country during his travels, Guatemala might well be divided 
for zoological or botanical purposes into three (or four) districts :—(1) “The Atlantic 
slope,” which is mainly of limestone formation in Alta Vera Paz, and has a very long 
rainy season—in Coban sometimes lasting into March,—-and an abundance of humid 
* All made on horse- or male-back or on foot; the first Guatemalan railway—from San José to Escuintla— 
was opened just before he left. 
