PREFACE. 



R. Joseph Wolf — to whose ability and friendship I am indebted for the 

 twenty illustrations which appear in this volume — was born in Rhenish 

 Prussia, on the left bank of the Rhine, not far from Coblenz. As a youth 

 he was passionately fond of observing and drawing Wild Animals, and loved to 

 prowl over the hills, or amongst the woods, in search of objects for study. His 

 early efforts, like those of many artists who have risen high in their profession, 

 were not fully appreciated, and he attained manhood without meeting with a patron. 

 At length Professor Schlegel, of the Leyden Museum, who was about to publish 

 a large work on Falconry, saw some of Mr. Wolf's drawings, and, recognizing 

 their merit, at once engaged him to illustrate his book. Through this work 

 Wolf became known in England, and, in 1847, was invited to come over to 

 make some illustrations for Gray's " Genera of Birds,'' which work was then in 

 course of publication. At that time, however, he was engaged in painting at the 

 Antwerp Academy, and felt little inclined to accept the offer; but in the following 

 year, when the Continent was convulsed by Revolution, and Art prospects were 

 gloomy, he came over to London, and has remained there ever since, except when 

 travelling for the purposes of study. During these twenty-five years Mr. Wolf 

 has been a diligent observer at the Zoological Gardens, has executed many drawings 

 for the Zoological Society, and has steadily increased his reputation. His aid has 

 been continually sought for book-illustrations, and a large part of the success which 

 has attended the publications of some of our most distinguished travellers has been 

 due to his contributions. Scientific naturalists in this country, as well as on the 

 Continent and in America, consider that his power of delineating specific characters 

 is simply unrivalled. 



