Letters, Extracts, Notices, S^c. 189 



August von Pelzeln was devoted to Natural History from 

 his earliest youth, and at first much interested in Entomo- 

 logy. After completing his University studies, it was his 

 earnest wish to obtain a place in the Imperial Cabinet of 

 Natural History ; but, as there seemed no chance of such 

 an opening, he determined to study law, and after passing 

 the necessary examinations, was admitted to practise in the 

 Vienna Courts. In the beginning of 1851, however, an 

 opportunity presented itself of obtaining a subordinate 

 place in the Museum. This was as assistant to Dr. C. 

 Diesing, Avho was gradually losing his eyesight. Here he 

 had excellent opportunities of indulging his taste for 

 Natural History, being engaged in writing out from dicta- 

 tion the results of Diesing^s work, and in making microsco- 

 pical observations for him. Pelzeln remained Diesing's trusty 

 assistant and amanuensis until the death of the latter in 

 1867. 



In 1852, upon the death of Heckel, Pelzeln took over 

 the care of the collection of birds, and in 1869 that of the 

 mammals, of the Imperial Collection, and did much for the 

 enrichment of both these Departments. In 1857 he became 

 Custos- Adjunct, and in 1869 Gustos. 



In 1883 Pelzeln's sight began to fail him, and the evil 

 increased for several years, during which, however, he 

 accomplished the transference of the Collections into the 

 new Natural-History Museum-Building in the Ringstrasse. 

 The malady still increased, so that in 1888, after thirty- 

 seven years' service to the State, during which he had never 

 taken a rest, he was obliged to ask for his retirement, and 

 on this occasion received the decoration of the Ritterkreuz 

 of the Order of Franz-Joseph. Although Pelzeln retired 

 from the Museum at this period, he continued to work as 

 much as possible in his own branch of science. He assisted 

 in the management of the Ornithological Union of Vienna, 

 and resumed, along with Herr Pallisch, the editorship of 

 ' Die Schwalbe,' the organ of that Association, in which he 

 had taken part in former years. In addition to his bad 

 eyesight, a malady in the feet supervened, which carried him 

 oflf on the 2nd of September of last year. 



