42 MEMOIR OF CAMPER. 



by the little care which they exercise in represent- 

 ing these animals, and in preparing them for being 

 exhibited in their different collections." This le^ds 

 him to a disquisition on the best modes of stuffing 

 and preserving animals, by taking casts, &c. all 

 of which appear admirable, and being the result of 

 much experience and ingenuity, merits the especial 

 regard of those engaged in such labour. 



One of the investigations which, at this era of his 

 history, most deeply interested Camper, related to a 

 remarkable and highly interesting peculiarity in the 

 structure of birds. In all animals, the osseous or 

 bony system subserves two grand purposes. As it 

 includes all the hard and more solid parts of the 

 machine, it acts )t /zrs, as a substantial framework, to 

 which the soft parts are attached, and, in conjunc- 

 tion with which, the process of locomotion is ac- 

 complished ; and, secondly, it affords a covering and 

 defence to the many very delicate internal organs by 

 which the phenomena of life are maintained. The 

 lungs, again, are those organs by which, in all the 

 higher classes of animals, respiration is performed, 

 the purification of the blood is effected, and the vital 

 heat is preserved. These, in general terms, are the 

 principal functions performed by the osseous and re- 

 spiratory apparatus in man and quadrupeds. Now, 

 up to the period under review, it had not been sus- 

 pected that there was any marked peculiarity in the 

 nses to which in birds these parts were appropriated. 

 Camper, however, whilst engaged in some minute 



