PREFACE. 



The present work is intended to provide students of 

 comparative anatomy with a condensed statement of the 

 most important facts relating to the structure of verte- 

 brated animals, which have hitherto been ascertained. 

 Except in a very few cases, I have intentionally abstained 

 from burdening the text with references ; and, therefore, 

 the reader, while he is justly entitled to liold me respon- 

 sible for any errors he may detect, will do well to give 

 me no credit for what may seem original, unless his 

 knowledge is sufficient to render him a competent judge 

 on that head. 



About two-thirds of the illustrations are original, the 

 rest * are copied from figures given by Agassiz, Bischoff, 

 Burmeister, Busch, Cams, Duges, Flower, Gegenbaur, 

 Hyrtl, Yon Meyer, Miiller, Pander and D Alton, Parker, 

 Quatrefages, and Traquair. 



A considerable portion of the book has been in type 

 for some years ; and this circumstance must be my excuse 

 for appearing to ignore the views of several valued con- 

 temporaries. I refer more especially to those contained 

 in recently-published works of Professors Flower and 

 Gesienbaur. 



London, September, 1871. 



* Namely, figures 1, 6, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 18, 23, 26, 28, 29, 30, 31, 36, 39, 41, 

 42, 46, 50, 51, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 75, 79, 82, 101, 107, 108, 109, 110. 



