The Author has hoped, therefore, by these outlines to 

 introduce the student of veterinary comparative anatomy 

 to his standard of comparison, for only by first gain- 

 ing a knowledge of this can he qualify himself for the 

 study. In the dissecting room the student's investiga- 

 tions are in the first place confined to the Eorse, after- 

 wards he may avail himself of opportunities of ex- 

 amining other animals. It is, therefore, in the dissecting 

 room, during this first stage of his study, this work 

 is designed to render him assistance. In his study and 

 at his leisure he will fully aj)i3reciate the beauties and 

 the solid value of the works above alluded to ; but the 

 student in the dissecting room requires conciseness, a 

 quality which the Author believes he has been successful in 

 harmonising with truth. 



And if, in the course of his examination of Nahire, th.e 

 student observes errors in this work of ari, let him re- 

 member "Varium et mutabile semper natura;" let him 

 see whether he has not discovered one of those exceptions 

 which but serve to prove Nature's rules. 



A work of this kind necessarily omits important facts, 

 but the author has endeavoured to insert all the leading 

 facts of his subject, almost all of which he has himself 

 seen in the dissecting room. When obliged to trust to the 

 observations of others, he has referred to our leading 

 authorities ; ho has not, however, hesitated to confirm his 

 own observations by comparison with those recorded by 

 others. If he has failed in supplying to veterinary litera- 

 ture a work of which he himself not very long ago, as a 

 student, felt the need, he hopes his failure will stir up 



