351 



1 HE Naturalist of tlie expedition has been ex- 

 pressly commissioned to draw up the following 

 papers, which, from the nature of the case, are to 

 contain researches, observations, corrections, and 

 discoveries, in w^hich each of the members of the 

 expedition had a share, and which are to be con- 

 sidered as the fruit of their joint labours. The 

 author desires, expressly, to guard against the sus- 

 picion of desiring to attribute to himself the merit 

 of others. 



On the other hand, he will be alone answerable 

 for the composition, and for the opinions which he 

 expresses, which every one, perhaps, would not 

 participate with him. 



He farther recognizes only the German text: for 

 the various foreign subjects of which he had to treat 

 have made him too sensible how difficult it is, 

 when aiming at brevity to avoid obscurity, for 

 him to answer for translations of which he cannot 

 judge. 



ADELBERT V. CHAMISSO. 



Berlin, Dec. 1819. 



