INTRODUCTION xm 



But what those pages do not tell falls to my lot. 

 It is to say how much I and my fellow trustees 

 of the British Museum have appreciated the work 

 done by Mr. Nicoll, his skill in the preparation 

 of the many hundreds of specimens now in the 

 National collections, and his whole-hearted zeal 

 for his favourite science. 



Time severs many links and brings to some 

 promotion. Thus, on his return from our last 

 voyage, Mr. Nicoll was appointed by the Egyptian 

 Government to the post of second in charge of 

 the Zoological Gardens at Giza, near Cairo, and 

 thus our rambles together are as of the past ; 

 but I trust that the pleasant hours in many and 

 various scenes of the world may be brought to 

 life again in this book, which I hope will run to 

 many editions. 



My "rolling stone" has started. "Valhalla" is 

 now taking in her stores, and ere these words of 

 mine see the ink of the press, I shall be well on 

 my way to the far East alas, without my 

 companion. 



CRAWFORD. 



