-^ From Cave-dwcllci-'s Sketch to l*h()t()!^i-a|)h 



without song or music' Tliat is a matter for anxiety. 

 Insects, birds, quadrupeds, hfe and movement should be 

 a part of the landscape. This idea should continue to 

 attract more and more adherents. German thought and 

 feeling are altogether in unison on this subject, and it is 

 to be hoped that the cr\- for the protection of the beauties 

 of nature, for the preservation of the plant and animal 

 worlds, and all that is picturesque in our native landscape, 

 may continue to tind expression. The League for the 

 Preservation of the Homeland in Germany gains daily 

 new supporters. 



Men like Professor Conwentz and many others have 

 been working for vears in this direction, and carrvinsf 

 on a most successful {propaganda. This action for the 

 preservation of the Homeland, taken in the highest and 

 broadest sense of the word, must tend to evoke and foster 

 the love of nature and its beauties in ever wider circles. 



In other countries, too, steady progress is being made 

 towards the same goal, and the importance of these 

 considerations has lono- been recognised. In Eno'land and 

 in America a way has recently been found to give practical 

 effect to the idea of the protection of the beauties of 

 nature by measures well calculat'^d for this end. In this 

 connection, too, a refined lesthetic culture is gaining 

 ground. I do not at all close my eyes to the difficulty 

 of res^ulatino' the conditions bearino- on this matter. But 

 in this connection we must not shrink from decisive 



^ In tlie market of Nice alone, according to official statistics, from 

 November r, 1881, to the beginning of February 1882, 1,318,356 little 

 song-birds were put up for sale. 



105 



