LETTER TO CUVIER. 107 



myself during the last three years as if I might 

 be off at any minute. I have learned to skin 

 all sorts of animals, even very large ones, 

 have made more than a hundred skeletons of 

 quadrupeds, birds, reptiles, and fishes ; I have 

 tested all the various liquors for preserving 

 such animals as should not be skinned, and 

 have thought of the means of supplying the 

 want in countries where the like preparations 

 are not to be had, in case of need. Finally, 

 I have trained as traveling companion a young 

 friend, 1 and awakened in him the same love of 

 the natural sciences. He is an excellent hun- 

 ter, and at my instigation has been taking 

 lessons in drawing, so that he is now able to 

 sketch from nature such objects as may be 

 desirable. We often pass delightful moments 

 in our imaginary travels through unknown 

 countries, building thus our castles in Spain. 

 Pardon me if I talk to you of projects which 

 at first sight seem puerile ; only a fixed aim 

 is needed to give them reality, and to you I 

 come for counsel. My longing is so great 

 that I feel the need of expressing it to some 

 one who will understand me, and your sympa- 

 thy would make me the happiest of mortals. 

 I am so pursued by this thought of a scientific 



1 William Schimper, brother of Karl. 



