INTKODUCTOEY LETTER* 
19 
I shall not here repeat what I owe to the late H. Boie ; 
my feeble words would not suffice to express the senti- 
ments which I feel in retracing in my memory the 
moments which the company of this unfortunate philo- 
sopher rendered so precious. His mildness, his kindness, 
and all the qualities of a noble and elevated spirit, made 
him to be beloved by all who knew him ; a philanthropist 
as zealous as enlightened, he employed his vast erudition 
only to make it profitable to his friends, and his discoveries 
were the secret of the whole world. I had the good for- 
tune to enjoy daily intercourse with this excellent man, 
and I only regret that this intercourse was but of too short 
duration. Boie wished to confide to me, at his departure, 
the vast number of observations which have been pub- 
lished by his brother ; on arriving in the Indies, he did not 
cease to communicate to me his notes on the manners and 
mode of life of Ophidians, which I have taken care to 
embody in my book. His young pupil and friend, M. 
MiiLLER, a worthy successor in his labours, has followed 
so bright an example in communicating to us a great 
number of drawings executed from the life by our de- 
ceased friend, the young Van Oort. Several other 
friends, among whom I especially reckon MM. St Clair 
Massiah, Professor Cantraine, and M. Susanna, ad- 
ministrator of the Museum, have sought to assist me 
by their talents. I offer them my sincere thanks. Lastly, 
I cannot terminate these pages without returning thanks 
to the preceptors of my early youth, MM. He Winkler 
and Professor Schmid of Altenburg in Saxony : if 
there be any merit in my works, as regards the art of 
writing, it should be attributed to the second : the first 
inspired me with that profound taste for the study of Na- 
tural History, which decided me afterwards to devote 
myself wholly to this beautiful science, 
I believe I have said all that is necessary for the 
understanding of my book. Its end will be gained if it 
obtain your approbation. Sir, and if it be favourably re- 
ceived by that part of the public which prefers simplicity 
to innovations. 
H. SCHLEGEL. 
