PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION. 



Huxley after years of pedagogical experience reached 

 the conclusion that it is unwise to introduce the beginner 

 at once to new and strange forms of microscopic life when 

 it is possible to use a subject of which the student is 

 bound to know something, the elementary anatomy of 

 a vertebrate animal. The late T. Jeffrey Parker and 

 numerous other eminent zoologists likewise advocate be- 

 ginning zoological work by studying one of the higher 

 animals. Since the majority of college students have time 

 for only one year of zoological work, they cannot acquire 

 a fruitful knowledge of both vertebrates and invertebrates. 

 A study of the former enables one not only to become 

 familiar with the anatomy and physiology of his own body, 

 a matter of vital importance, but throws a clear light on 

 the significant problem of organic evolution such as is not 

 to be derived from a study of invertebrate forms. Inas- 

 much as the genealogical histories are best worked out 

 among the Mammalia, and since a careful study of the 

 anatomy of the cat familiarizes one with the anatomy of 

 the human body, as is evidenced by the fact that our best 

 medical schools now advise their prospective students to 

 dissect either a dog, a cat, or a rabbit as a preparation for 

 their later work, it is apparent that a knowledge of the 

 mammals is of the greatest worth. 



This brief work is intended to acquaint the student with 

 the general structure of the cat, and at the same time intro- 

 duce him to some of the most important morphologic 

 features of the Mammalia. The following works are useful 

 for reference: "Anatomical Technology," Wilder and 

 Gage; " Anatomy of the Cat," Reighard and Jennings; 



