PREFACE. 



PROFESSOR WIEDERSHEIM'S Grundriss der vergleichenden 

 Anatomic der Wirlelthiere, published at Jena in 1884, was 

 written to supply a need which had been felt for some time 

 past for a short text-book on Vertebrate Anatomy embodying 

 some of the more recent views on the subject. The present 

 book is a modified translation of the Grundriss, and it is 

 hoped that it will serve to render Professor Wiedersheim's work 

 more widely known amongst English students. 



The plan of the original has been retained throughout, though 

 numerous additions and modifications have been made to the 

 work ; for many of these I have to thank Professor Wiedersheim, 

 for others I am myself responsible. I must also express my 

 indebtedness to Professor Wiedersheim for revising the whole 

 translation with me last summer, and for much help while the 

 work was in progress. 



Within the limits of a short text-book like the present, much 

 of the matter is of necessity greatly condensed : more detailed 

 accounts of the various parts and organs will be found in the 

 new edition of Professor Wiedersheim's Lehrluch der vergl. 

 Anatomie der Wirbelthiere, which is to appear shortly, and on 

 the first edition of which the Grundriss was founded. 



