Description: [view in Spanish]Born in Las Anonas, near San José, Costa Rica, Zeledón was the scion of a distinguished family whose intellectual gifts and love of learning were common traits. His father, don Manuel Zeledón, was governor of the district of San José for thirty years, and a man of great integrity. From earliest childhood José was interested in birds, and began serious study as
Description: The 19th century was a transformative time for the natural sciences. New discoveries didn't just happen in an armchair. Scientists adventured into unfamiliar territory by land and sea on expeditions, and their new findings fed new theories. Groups like the Columbian Institute for the Promotion of Arts and Sciences and the National Academy of Sciences formalized America's place