Bibliographical Notices. 45 



Might we not conclude from this, that at the epoch when these 

 tertiary beds were formed, the latitude, the currents, and the oro- 

 graphic configuration, had the same influences as at the present 

 day ? Thence it may be allowable to imagine that the Cordilleras 

 had, at that geological epoch, sufficient height to form, upon a 

 vast scale, a barrier between the two seas, and that, since that 

 epoch, the south continent has not changed its form. 



BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. 



Elements of Comparative Anatomy. By Rud. Wagner, M.D. ; trans- 

 lated from the German by Alfred Tulk, M.R.C.S.E. 



The greatest naturalist of modern times was also the highest autho- 

 rity in comparative anatomy ; even as the first and greatest of natu- 

 ralists in ancient times was also well- versed in the internal structure 

 of the animals he classified. Cuvier and Aristotle had alike an 

 intimate conviction of the necessity of comparative anatomy to the 

 accomplishment of the zoologist. Rut comparative anatomy has still 

 higher tendencies than those it possesses as guiding the zoologist in 

 his arrangements : the form and structure of the living things that 

 people and that have peopled this earth are intimately associated 

 with its history, so that the geologist and palaeontologist are scarcely 

 less interested in a knowledge of comparative anatomy than the zoo- 

 logist. More than this : function is identical throughout the animated 

 realm of nature, and the physiologist, and, as a derivative from him, 

 the physician and the surgeon, are all alike interested in possessing 

 a comprehensive knowledge of the organs by which the specific func- 

 tions, whose sum constitutes the life in each particular species of 

 animals, are performed. Hence it comes that comparative anatomy 

 has often been the preparative to the highest eminence ever achieved 

 in the medical profession. We need only quote Mr. John Hunter 

 in proof of the fact. 



We had been for some time without a good elementary treatise 

 on comparative anatomy in the English language. Strange as it 

 may appear, it must still be allowed that there are certain subjects 

 upon which we do not seem destined ever to possess perfectly satis- 

 factory rudimentary works by native authors : comparative anatomy 

 is one of these. The old standard was Bluraenbach, which, trans- 

 lated by Mr. Lawrence, came to a second edition under the revision 

 of Mr. Coulson. Then we had Cams, with the extent of whose suc- 

 cess among us we are unacquainted. Now we have Wagner, a 

 work which we cannot but regaul as a great improvement upon all 

 its predecessors. The grand features of the subject are in fact pre- 

 sented in the elements of comparative anatomy with the hand of a 

 master, and the minor details are also there, just to the point that 

 comes short of tediousness. The book is truly excellent, and we 

 recommend all our readers to procure a copy, to interleave it, and 

 have it at hand as the repository of any observations which they 

 themselves may make. 



