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 
