THE NATURALIST AND THE BIRD. 
497 
serve only to fructify the land where the naturalist has 
sown his seed, instead of withering its germ. 
Natural Science binds its disciples with magic 
chains, and knows how to render them happy in her 
embrace, even though she dispenses her benefits with a 
sparing hand, and also deals out her scanty reward in 
small, but precious gifts. The father of our immortal 
Naumann was but a simple peasant; observation of 
Nature made him an enquirer, and enquiry led him to 
strive in the paths of science, showing a patience and 
devotion that can only be understood by him, who himself 
serves in the ranks of science. His own words will best 
pourtray him to the reader. 
“ By this time I had made myself acquainted with the 
birds of the forest and the field. I yet stood in need, 
however, of information on the subject of aquatic birds, 
which, as they were not all to be met with in our ponds, 
still remained unknown to me. I had a great yearning 
to become acquainted with them, and by unlooked-for 
good fortune the opportunity occurred. 
“ About half a mile (German) from us there was a 
dried-up marsh, which belonged to a very old friend of 
mine, who at that time gave me the exclusive right of 
shooting over it. Fortunately, that year the rainfall 
was very great, greater indeed than it had been, possibly 
for the last hundred years. As our neighbourhood lay 
somewhat low our best fields were spoiled, and became 
covered with coarse grass and sedge, owing to the floods 
putting an entire stop to all cultivation. 
“ Under these circumstances I had less farm-work to 
do than usual, and, therefore, had the more opportunity 
to prosecute my researches after water-fowl. The swamp 
I have just mentioned looked like a lake, and attracted 
