PREFACE. 



THE appearance of the present volume in the German 

 original excited on many sides the wish that its contents 

 should be rendered accessible to a wider circle of readers 

 by an English translation. This was due not only 

 to the personality of the Author and the interest in 

 Natural History pursuits which is so generally taken 

 in this country, but also to the fact that the pages 

 of the volume abound in original observations related 

 with singular freshness and attractiveness. 



Impressed with the value of the work, Mr. Danford 

 resolved to prepare a translation for publication, if His 

 Imperial and Royal Highness were pleased to grant the 

 required permission. Mr. Danford was willing to under- 

 take this as a labour of love; and no one could have 

 been better qualified for the task, both on account of 

 his acquaintance with the language of the original and 



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