CENTRAL AMERICA 



COSTA RICA 



SAN JOSE: 



MUSEO NAGIONAL. 



Staff. Director and zoologist, Anastasio Alfaro; Botanist, 

 Adolf o Tonduz ; Taxidermist, Adan Lizano ; 2 preparators in archeology, 

 1 guard, 1 keeper, and 1 doorman. 



Anthropology. Local collections in archeology and ethnology, 

 including specimens of native gold work, ceramics, textiles, etc. 



Astronomy. An observatory connected with the museum and in 

 charge of an astronomer. There is also a meteorological station of the 

 first order with two meteorologists. 



Botany. A herbarium of 20,000 specimens, representing 4000 

 species of Costa Rican plants. 



Commerce and Industry. A collection of native vegetable 

 products, including coffee, cocoa, etc. 



Geology. A small collection of minerals, rocks, and fossils of 

 Costa Rica, and a relief map of the country. 



History. Ancient and modern weapons, including stone axes 

 and hatchets, and bows and arrows of native Indian tribes; weapons 

 and other relics of the campaign of Walker in 1856-57; and a small 

 collection of oriental weapons. 



Zoology. This department includes the national collections, 

 representing all the zoological groups but not cataloged. 



Other Collections. A collection of medals and coins. 



Historical Sketch. The museum was founded in 1887 under 

 the administration of President Bernardo Soto, with a collection of 

 native antiquities, bequeathed to the nation by Sr. Troyo and soon 

 increased by purchase of other collections. The zoological collections 

 owe their importance to the work of Anasta sio Alfaro and George K. 

 Cherrie on the vertebrate groups; Jose C. Zeledon on birds; Cecilio 

 Underwood on entomology, birds, and mammals; Pablo Biolley, J. 

 F. Tristan, and Enrique Pittier on invertebrate groups. The botan- 

 ical collections have been developed by Alfaro, Biolley, Pittier, Adolfo 

 Tonduz, and Carlos Werckle. 



