viii Preface to the Eiiglish Edition. 



scientific world in Great Britain), could not be acted upon to 

 the extent and in the effectual manner each of us could have 

 wished, the reason for such deficiencies will be found in the 

 peculiar mission of the Expedition, and in the arrangement 

 of our route, which was specially laid out with reference 

 to the numerous and widely diff'erent objects, which it was 

 specially intended to keep in view throughout the voyage. 



Among the more prominent of these, may be specified the 

 opportunity thus afforded for the practical instruction of our 

 young and rapidly-increasing navy ; the unfurling of the 

 Imperial flag of Austria in those distant climes, where it 

 had never before floated ; the promulgation of commercial 

 treaties; the aid afforded to science in exploration and 

 investigation, as well as by the collection of those objects of 

 Natural History, the acquisition of which is all but impossible 

 to the solitary naturalist, owing to the expense and difficulty 

 of transport,* and the establishment everywhere of friendly 



* Notmthstancling the short period at our disposal at each port, wliich concomitant 

 necessity militates so much against the practical utility of a circumna%'igation of the 

 globe as compared with an expedition solely directed to one single centre of scientific 

 observation, the collection of objects of Natural History made during the cruise are 

 very extensive, and unusually rich in new or rare species. The zoological depart- 

 ment alone embraces above 23,700 individuals of difierent kinds of animals: \dz. 

 440 minerals, »00 reptiles, 1500 birds, 1400 AmjMbice, 1330 fish, 9000 insects, 8900 

 Molluscs and Crustacea;, 300 bii'ds' eggs and nests, besides numerous skeletons. The 

 botanical collection consists of Herharia, seeds of useful plants, special regard being 

 had to those best adapted for the various chmates of the respective Austrian 

 provinces, drugs, specunens of dye-woods, and timber, fruits preserved in alcohol, 

 &c. The Geological and Palseontological Museums of our coimtry have like^vise been 

 enriched with various rare and valuable specimens, pai-ticularly in consequence of 

 Dr. Hochstetter, the geologist of the Expedition, havmg prolonged liis stay in New 



