10 



lost no opportunity which presented itself, of inciting those around us, and more 

 especially the younger members of the medical profession, to the prosecution of a 

 path of inquiry from which we have, ourselves, derived such pure and delightful 

 recreation, — so many and such solid advantages. In this spirit, we, nine years ago, 

 contemplated a translation, from the German, of the last edition of Blumenbach's 

 celebrated Manual of Comparative Anatomy. Subsequently to 1807, when Mr. 

 Lawrence's masterly translation of that work was first published, Zootomy had 

 made a rapid stride in this country, and, more particularly, on the continent ; and 

 one or two other editions of Blumenbach's Manual had seen the light. On re- 

 ceiving information, however, from Mr. Coulson, that he was actually engaged 

 upon the work, we, without hesitation, abandoned the project. His translation, 

 or rather revised edition of Mr. Lawrence's translation, soon afterwards appeared ; 

 but we candidly avow that the work, in its style of execution, falls very far short 

 of the expectations which, from our knowledge of the talents, industry, and attain- 

 ments of Mr. Coulson, we had been led to indulge. Several inaccuracies which 

 had escaped the vigilant eye of Mr. Lawrence, have been suffered to pass without 

 correction. Various errors, of which that distinguished writer never could have 

 been guilty, disfigure the interpolations of Mr. Coulson ; and divers passages, in- 

 troduced by the German Professor into the last edition, have been doomed to inex- 

 plicable neglect. Still worse, the notes of Blumenbach and Lawrence have been 

 frequently incorporated, by the sub-translator, with the original text : and the bulk 

 of the volume has been needlessly swelled by the introduction of matter frequently 

 uninteresting, and sometimes destitute of any very obvious connection with the 

 subject. Under these circumstances, we may, perchance, render an acceptable 

 service to the readers of The Naturalist, by presenting a close and nearly literal 

 translation, without regard to elegancies of style, of certain portions of the pure 

 text of the last edition of Blumenbach's Manual; and concisely adding, in notes, 

 such new facts and illustrations as our own reading and observation may enable 

 us to supply. For the benefit of the student of German, we shall add, in paren- 

 theses, the German synonyms of such of the various scientific and especially 

 anatomical terms, as cannot be found in the ordinal y dictionaries of the language. 

 The French and Latin synonyms, when new or peculiar, will also be introduced. 



The Manual of Blumenbach, it will be seen, is destined merely to communicate 

 elementary knowledge : and, on this account, we have selected it as far better 

 adapted for the purpose of conveying popular instruction, than the more elaborate, 

 profound, and comprehensive productions of the later German and the French 

 zootomists. A very correct general acquaintance with the anatomy of animals 

 may, however, be acquired from an attentive and re-iterated perusal of Blumen- 

 bach's work ; especially if the student be careful to impress upon his memory the 

 leading facts of the German writer, and to verify his descriptions by frequent 

 examination of, and their comparison with, such specimens of the animal structure 



