1913] An Entomologist in Costa Rica 3 



and quickly made. In the higher parts of the country the cHmate 

 is salubrious and invigorating, and with a little care one may 

 safely investigate the heated lowlands. Proximity to South 

 America, with no intervening barrier, has permitted the invasion 

 of many denizens of the Southern Continent, while not a few 

 cases of continuous distribution from North America are also in 

 evidence. The most orderly of Central American countries 

 holds its presidential elections with as much enthusiasm and 

 with less disturbance than those of the United States. A 

 peaceful and hospitable people and an enlightened government 

 render the stranger's visit an event to be remembered by him 

 with delight throughout a lifetime. 



In one or other of these qualities, Costa Rica is excelled by 

 Mexico, Colombia or Brazil, but by none in the totality of the 

 advantages which it offers to the students of all the branches 

 of ecology in its widest sense. One shadow, indeed, hangs over 

 the fair land — that of the earthquakes which within two centuries 

 have thrice destroyed the town of Cartago, lying on the southern 

 slopes of the volcano Irazu, the latest destruction being that of 

 May 4, 1910, when it was serving as our own headquarters. 



During the year. May 1909, to May, 1910, insects, especially 

 Odonata (dragonfiies) were collected and studied at the following 

 fourteen groups of places and at intervals, in order to obtain 

 data on seasonal distribution. 

 On the Atlantic slope : 



Banana River region, 50 feet, November. 



Guapiles, 984 feet, June, November. 



Peralta, 1088 feet, August, March. 



Turrialba, 2000 feet, July. 



Juan Vifias, 2500-4000 feet, June, August, October,, 

 December, February, March April. 



Cachi, 3600 feet, March. 



Cartago, 4750 feet, every month. 



Volcano Irazu, 4750-11300 feet, July, September, March- 

 On the Pacific slope: 



Tres Rios and La Carpintera, 4260 to 5700 feet, Decem- 

 ber, March. 



Alajuela, 3100 feet, September, December. 



Turrucares, 1800-2200 feet, August, December, ApriL 



Surubres, 800 feet, October. 



Puntarenas, 10 feet, February. 



Guanacaste, 0-2200 feet, January. 



