PREFACE 



A FEW lines will suffice to explain why we have compiled 

 the present volume, to what wants it responds, and what 

 its sphere of usefulness may possibly embrace. 



In our teaching of plastic anatomy, especially at the Ecole 

 des Beaux- Arts — where, for the past nine years, we have 

 had the very great honour of supplementing the teaching 

 of our distinguished master, Mathias Duval, after having 

 been prosector for his course of lectures since 1881 — it is 

 our practice to give, as a complement to the study of human 

 anatomy, a certain number of lessons on the anatomy of 

 those animals which artists might be called on to represent. 



Now, we were given to understand that the subject 

 treated in our lectures interested our hearers, so much so 

 that we were not surprised to learn that a certain number 

 repeatedly expressed a desire to see these lectures united 

 in book form. 



To us this idea was not new ; for many years the work in 

 question had been in course of preparation, and we had 

 collected materials for it, with the object of filling up a 

 void of which the existence was to be regretted. But our 

 many engagements prevented us from executing our pro- 

 ject as early as we would have wished. It is this work 

 which we publish to-day. 



Putting aside for a moment the wish expressed by our 

 hearers, we feel ourselves in duty bound to inquire whether 

 the utility of this publication is self-evident. Let it be 

 clearly understood that we wish to express here our opinion 



