10 



ADVERTISEMENT TO THE SECOND EDITION. 



M. Latreille, who, with the exception of some anatomical details, founded on my own 

 observations and those of M. Ramdohr, which I have inserted in his text, is its sole 

 author, will take upon himself to explain all that is necessary. 



As to the Zoophytes, which terminate the Animal Kingdom, I have availed myself, 

 for the Echinoderms, of the recent work of M. de Lamarck ; and for the Intestinal 

 Worms, of that of M. Rudolphi, intitled Entozoa ; but I have anatomized all the 

 genera, some of which have been determined by me only. There is an excellent 

 work by M. Tiedemann, on the anatomy of the Echinoderms, which received the 

 prize of the Institute some years ago, and will shortly appear ; it will leave nothing to 

 be desired respecting these curious animals. The Corals and the Infusoria, offering 

 no field for anatomical investigations*, will be briefly disposed of. The new work of 

 M. de Lamarck will supply my deficiencies. f 



With respect to authors, I can only here mention those who have furnished me 

 with general views, or who were the origin of such in my own mind. J There are 

 many others to whom I am indebted for particular facts, and whose names I have 

 carefully quoted wherever I have made use of them. They will be found on every 

 page of my book. Should I have omitted to do justice to any, it must be attributed 

 to involuntary forgetfulness, and I ask pardon beforehand : there is no property, in 

 my opinion, more sacred than the conceptions of the mind ; and the custom, too pre- 

 valent among naturalists, of masking plagiarisms by a change of names, has always 

 appeared to me a crime. 



The publication of my Comparative Anatomy will now occupy me every moment : 

 the materials are ready ; a vast quantity of preparations and drawings are arranged ; 

 and I shall be careful in dividing the work into parts, each of which will form a 

 whole, so that, should my physical powers prove insufficient for the completion of my 

 design, what I have produced will still form entire suites, and the materials I have 

 collected be in immediate readiness for those who may undertake the continuation 

 of my labours. 



Jardin du Roi, October, 1816. 



ADVERTISEMENT TO THE SECOND EDITION. 



The preceding preface explains faithfully the condition in which I found the 

 history of animals when the first edition of this work was published. During the 

 twelve years that have since elapsed, this science has made immense progress, 

 not only from the acquisitions of numerous travellers, as well-instructed as courageous, 

 who have explored every region of the globe, but by the rich collections which 

 various governments have formed and rendered public, and by the learned and 



* The surprising- researches of M. Ehrenberg, now publishing from 

 time to time, triumphantly refute this allegation. — Ed. 



1 1 have just received L y Histoire des Pulypiers correWgencs flejibles 

 of M. Lamouroux, which furnishes an excellent supplement to 



M. rle Lamarck. 



J M. de Blainville has recently published general zoological tables, 

 which I regret came too late for me to profit by, having appeared 

 when my book was nenrly printed. 



