PREFACE. 



The following pages aim at presenting some personal 

 impressions and observations, as well as the results of 

 some reading. The author hopes that he has duly 

 signified his indebtedness to others where this was 

 necessary. He trusts that his essays may not be 

 found other than pleasant reading, and that young 

 folks here and there may derive some stimulus to 

 more systematic study of nature than he was for- 

 tunate enough to have the chance of making while 

 still young. 



ALEXANDER H. JAPP. 



