Monteverde cloud forest mouse, Peromyscus nudipes. Costa Rica 

 is host to some 200 land mammal species. Photo by ]ames S. Ashe. 



Mating golden toads (Bufo periglenes) in Monteverde. This spe- 

 cies is known to occur only within one square kilometer of this 

 region — nowhere else in the world. About 180 amphibian species 

 are known to occur in Costa Rica — a country the size of West 

 Virginia. Photo by ]ames S. Ashe. 



14 



the highest elevations, was by foot along steep, muddy 

 and very primitive trails under heavy packs. Throughout 

 this part of the expedition we lived out of tents and 

 washed clothes, bathed, and drank out of sparkling cold 

 mountain streams amid spectacular and diverse tropical 

 forests. Though it rained virtually every afternoon, the 

 nights were often crystal clear, and we had a magnificent 

 view of Halley's comet. It was clearly visible among the 

 stars of the Southern Cross, which sparkled with the 

 clarity that can only be found in those last few areas far 

 from the lights and pollution of civilization. 



This newly established national park represents one 

 of the last strongholds of jaguars, mountain lions, pecca- 

 ries, and tapirs in all of the northern half of Costa Rica. 

 Our studies here were extremely productive, and our re- 

 sults will form the basis of the wildlife management plan 

 for this new national park. 



From the survey it was back to San Jose, the capital 

 of Costa Rica, for a much needed hot shower and re- 

 stocking of supplies. 



The second phase of the expedition, which we are 

 about to conclude, is here at Monteverde. Monteverde 

 is a community founded by Quakers who were escaping 

 the war draft in the United States in the early 1950s. 

 They selected one of the most remote mountain regions 



