192 ANNUAL RECORD OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY. 



respective countries, it was difficult to compare the different 

 exhibits effectively. 



The general conclusion readied is that, as regards every 

 nation, great progress has been made in cartography over 

 earlier exhibitions ; that, in respect to accuracy and clearness, 

 the Germanic nations excel. Sweden surpasses all in minute- 

 ness of detail, England in clearness and delicacy of outline, 

 and the United States in the art of turning to account mate- 

 rial for statistics. 



COSTA RICA. 



The results of Professor W. M. Gabb's labors in Costa Rica 

 in 1873-4 have been published by Dr. Petermann in map 

 form. As yet the province of Talamanca only, constituting 

 the southeastern portion of the republic, has been surveyed, 

 the tracts lying to the west and north being still unexplored. 



ISTHMUS OF DARIEN. 



The general results arrived at by the French Surveying 

 Expedition, under the command of Lieutenant Wyse, have 

 been published. 



The object was to find a route for a canal to join the At- 

 lantic and Pacific oceans without locks or tunnels; but this 

 desideratum does not seem to have been accomplished. 



The route examined was along the course of the Poyita 

 and Cacarica rivers ; but the lowest practicable pass over the 

 Cordilleras was found to be 450 feet above the lowest tides. 



M. Celler, one of the engineers of the party, proposes a 

 canal 65 miles long, by way of the Atrato and Tuyra rivers, 

 with reservoirs and groups of locks. 



Lieutenant Wyse is engaged in fresh investigations in this 

 region on behalf of the Comite du Canal Interoceanique. 



COLOMBIA AND ECUADOR. 



The results of the journey by M. Edouard Andre through 

 Colombia and Ecuador in 1875 and 187G are of great 

 value. 



M. Andre has secured many valuable specimens of natural 

 history, as well as an archaeological and ethnographical col- 

 lection, besides having measured many heights, taken careful 

 latitude and longitude observations, and obtained numerous 

 sketches and photographic views of the country. 



