BIBLIOGRAPHY.--For a general description of Central America, and
especially of its physical features, the following monographs by K.
Sapper are of prime importance:--_In den Vulcangebieten Mittelamerikas
und Westindiens_ (Stuttgart, 1905); _Mittelamerikanische Reisen und
Studien aus den Jahren 1888 bis 1900_ (Brunswick, 1902), and _Das
nordliche Mittelamerika nebst einem Ausflug nach dem Hochland von
Anahuac_ (Brunswick, 1897); these all contain many useful
illustrations and maps. See also _Central America and the West
Indies_, by A.H. Keane, edited by Sir C. Markham (London, 1901, 2
vols., with maps and illustrations); _Central and South America_, by
H.W. Bates (London, 1882); _The Spanish American Republics_, by T.
Child (London, 1892); and _Expedition nach Zentral und Sudamerika_, by
P. Preuss (Berlin, 1901). For geology, see "The Geological History of
the Isthmus of Panama and Portions of Costa Rica," by R.T. Hill, in
_Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard_, vol. xxviii., No. 5 (1898); and the
following by K. Sapper:--"Grundzuge der physikalischen Geographic von
Guatemala," in _Petermann's Mitt._ Erganzungsheft, No. 113 (1894),
"Uber Gebirgsbau und Boden des nordlichen Mittelamerika," ibid., No.
127 (1899), and "Uber Gebirgsbau und Boden des sudlichen
Mittelamerika," _ibid_., No. 151 (1905). _The States of Central
America_, by E.G. Squier (New York, 1858), is still valuable, as are
others of the numerous essays, pamphlets, &c., on Central American
affairs left by this author; see the bibliography of his writings
published in New York in 1876. The _Bulletins of the Bureau of
American Republics_ (Washington, from 1893) give ample information on
commerce and industry. See also _History of Central America_, by H.
Bancroft (San Francisco, 1881-1887. 3 vols.).

ARCHAEOLOGY OF CENTRAL AMERICA

Discoveries and investigations carried on during the 19th century have
thrown much light on the splendid past of Central America. The still
extant ruins of great buildings, unlike anything which is known in the
old world, testify to the high culture attained in pre-Columbian days by
several native peoples differing greatly from one another in speech and
racial affinities. As a science the archaeology of Central America has
scarcely yet emerged from its infancy. Entire branches are still wholly
uninvestigated. Amongst the numerous problems which await solution must
still be reckoned