INTRODUCTION. 



Biology, the comprehensive science which treats of living or 

 organised bodies, is divisible into two parts, the one dealing with 

 .the Vegetable, the other with the Animal Kingdom, Animal 

 Anatomy, or Zootomy, has for its object the investigation of the 

 animal frame, an investigation conducted by mechanically divid- 

 ing it into its component parts, and studying their form, struc- 

 ture, attachments, and relations. Anatomy may be Comparative, 

 Special, or Transcendental, according to the scope and ultimate 

 object in vieAv. Thus, if more than one sjaecies of animal be 

 under consideration, the comparative anatomist takes note of 

 their various deviations and similarities ; but, if the investiga- 

 tions be confined to one variety of animal, as in Human 

 Ana,tomy, the subject then becomes special. When Special 

 Anatomy leads to the thorough investigation of one single 

 variety, for the purpose of comparing other classes with it, the 

 subject of such special study is termed a type. 



Comparative Anatomy, therefore, is not studied by the indis- 

 criminate comparison of one class with another, but by referring 

 them to certain types or standards. Embracing as it does the 

 structural investigation of the whole animal kingdom, Compara- 

 tive Anatomy is closely related to the science of Zoology, the 

 latter science aiming especially at the attainment of a scientific 

 method of classification. Transcendental or Philosophical Ana- 

 tomy seeks for analogies and developmental facts, wliich may 

 guide the investigator in his search after primary anatomical 

 types. Since the prosecution of such a study must assume a 

 more or less profound knowledge of Comparative Anatomy, this 

 abstruse branch of the science is merely alluded to here in 

 passing. 



If we consider a portion of the animal body with respect to 

 its form, size, relative position, or structure, we are said to 

 consider it anatomically ; but should we inquire into the use or 



B 



