Obituary. 365 



interested in Natural History, especially Ornithology, being 

 no doubt influenced by bis acquaintance with the brothers 

 R. and W. Blasius of Brunswick and with Amtsrat A. Nehr- 

 korn of Riddagshausen, the well-known Oologist. From 

 this friendly intercourse originated the interesting book 

 'Fremde Eier im Nest' (1891), which may be called the 

 most remarkable among the numerous ornithological papers 

 and pamphlets which Leverktilin published in various 

 scientific periodicals. He was also a contributor to the 

 'Neue Naumann' (see the article on Upupa epops), and was 

 for many years an active member of the Council of the 

 " Deutsche Verein zum Sclmtze der Vogelwelt." 



Leverkiihn also worked actively in Bibliography, and was 

 famed for his extensive knowledge of literature, especially in 

 relation to ornithology. In this capacity Leverkiihn loved 

 to work out most carefully biographies, even of men little 

 known to science, and to republish long-forgotten pamphlets 

 (e. (/., ' Der philosophische Bauer, von Johann Andreas 

 Naumann'). An important paper in this line is the Bio- 

 graphy of the two Naumanns, father and son, in the ' Neue 

 Naumann/ 



It is very regrettable that Leverkiihn was not able to 

 see his most important piece of work finished, namely the 

 new Museum of Natural History in Sofia, which was so 

 far advanced that it was intended to open it to the public 

 in the course of the present year. Our Member, Prince 

 Ferdinand of Bulgaria, an ardent lover of Science, secured 

 Leverkiihn's services in 1892 to carry out his scientific plans. 

 Soon after his arrival in Sofia (May 1893), Leverkiihn 

 was nominated " Director of the Library and Scientific 

 Institutions," but still kept his original position as Private 

 Secretary to the Prince for II.H/s German correspondence. 

 In consequence of this position, Leverkiihn always travelled 

 along with the Prince, and was, besides, frequently entrusted 

 with missions of a confidential nature. All these duties, of 

 course, occupied a good deal of time, and it is really 

 marvellous how Leverkiihn managed to do much literary 

 work besides, and even to compose orchestral music. 



