Chapter II: Preface

To HERRMANN PLOUCQUET, Preserver of Objects of Natural History at the Royal Museum of Stuttgart,--the capital of the kingdom of Wurtemberg,--we are indebted for one of the cleverest and most popular displays in the GREAT EXHIBITION. Every one, from her Majesty the Queen down to the least of the charity-boys, hastens to see the Stuffed Animals from the Zollverein; every one lingers over them and laughs at them as long as the crowd will allow; and every one talks of them afterwards with a smile and a pleasing recollection.

That these clever productions of Ploucquet's talent may be long perpetuated, we have had daguerreotypes of them taken by Mr. Claudet, and engravings made from them on wood as faithfully like as possible.

We must beg our readers to remember that, excepting "Reynard the Fox," our sketches have been written to illustrate the drawings, for on this plea we claim some indulgence; but as we know full well that the pictures will be the main attraction of the volume, we are not apprehensive of much criticism.

The story of "Reynard the Fox" is told briefly in the words of an old version of this wonderful tale published in England many years ago. In Germany _Reinecke Fuchs_ is as popular as our "Jack the Giant-Killer." Carlyle says, "Among the people it was long a house-book and universal best companion; it has been lectured on in Universities, quoted in imperial Council-halls; it lay on the toilets of princes, and was thumbed to pieces on the bench of the artisan: we hear of grave men ranking it next to their Bible."

Goethe took the story of "Reynard" for the subject of a great poem; and the famous painter Kaulbach has recently illustrated Goethe's version with perhaps the finest series of pictures with which a book was ever adorned.

Herrmann Ploucquet has had the good taste to select six of these designs as models for his works. He has admirably preserved the expression which the painter gave to the Fox and his dupes, and every one recognises them with pleasure.

CONTENTS.
PAGE

The Weasels of Holm-Wood 15
The Wonderful Hare-Hunt 40
The Duel of the Dormice 45
The Six Kittens 49
The Frogs who would a-wooing go 59
The Story of Reynard the Fox 63

ILLUSTRATIONS.
PAGE

The Wonderful Hare-Hunt (Double Plate) _Frontispiece._
Dame Weasel and her Family 14
The Attentive Physician 17
The _very_ attentive Physician 21
Old Marten and Sharp Weasel, Esq. 25
Mr. Bantam's Interview with Old Marten 29
Longtail teaching the young Rabbits Arithmetic 33
Jack Hare and Grace Marten leading off the Ball 37
The Duel of the Dormice 44
The Kittens at Tea--Miss Paulina singing 48
Ensign Squeaker and Miss Rose 51
Young Marten bidding farewell to Miss Paulina 55
The Frogs who would a-wooing go 58
Reynard at Home at Malepardus 62
Reynard in the likeness of a Hermit 65
Sir Tibert delivering the King's Message 71
Reynard brings forward the Hare as his Witness 81
Reynard on his Pilgrimage to Rome 85
Reynard attacketh Laprell the Rabbit 91

THE

WEASELS OF HOLM-WOOD.