PREFACE TO SECOND EDITION. v [( 



Although the Professor contemplated the above-mentioned changes, 

 he desired to retain the ' distinctive character 5 of the book. This character, 

 as he himself said, loc. cit. pp. v-vi : 



' Consists in its attempting so to combine the concrete facts of Zootomy with 

 the outlines of systematic Classification as to enable the student to put them for 

 himself into their natural relations of foundation and superstructure. The founda- 

 tion may be made wider, and the superstructure may have its outlines not only filled 

 up, but even considerably altered by subsequent and more extensive labours ; but 

 the mutual relations of the one as foundation, and of the other as superstructure, 

 which this book particularly aims at illustrating, must always remain the same.' 



Another observation may be quoted, loc. cit. p. vi : 



* It is hoped that this work, though written with a view chiefly to the needs of 

 University students of Comparative Anatomy, and with special reference to the 

 application of that branch of science as an engine of instruction, may in some 

 measure meet the requirements of the now not inconsiderable number of persons 

 who are attracted to the study by seeing the important bearings which it has upon 

 questions not only of theoretical and philosophical, but also of practical interest.' 



It would have been more agreeable to my own feelings if this second 

 edition had been issued at an earlier date. But the great length of time 

 which has elapsed since the publication of the first full seventeen years 

 has brought with it so many and such vast changes in Comparative 

 Anatomy that great labour and consequent delay became inevitable. I may 

 mention that scientific periodicals on the general subject and its branches 

 have since 1870 been almost doubled, not only in number, but also in 

 bulk ; and one whole science that of Comparative Embryology has 

 been formulated and now constitutes the foundation of all Anatomy. Any 

 worker placed single-handed under such conditions, is at a great dis- 

 advantage even with all the modern paraphernalia of abstracts. And 

 I have to add a lesson learnt by personal experience, that in most cases 

 the best abstract available cannot by any means stand in the place of 

 the original paper. Among other causes of delay my own employment 

 as a teacher must be taken into account, and there have also occurred 



of them were exhibited by him as a ' Zoological series with Dissections in illustration,' in the 

 Educational Department of the Great Exhibition of 1862. 



Thirteen woodcuts have been added in the text, and three new Plates (Pis. IV, VII, IX). Of 

 the old plates, one (PI. IX of the first edition) has been cancelled. The woodcuts 1-5 and the three 

 new plates have been drawn by Julian Drummond, Esq., the present Radcliffe Artist ; the plates of 

 the first edition were drawn by his predecessor, George Crozier, Esq. 



