14 On the present state of Zoology. 



ses of animals. When the question is reduced to — whether two ani- 

 mals belong to the same species, or whether two species can rightly 

 he referred to the same genus, we can hut commit an error of one or 

 a few steps, which, when detected, will excite hut little notice. Ne- 

 vertheless, we believe that we should much lessen all chance of er- 

 ror, by knowing- the whole structure of the animals before us. In the 

 present state of the science, it is necessary to have recourse to very 

 subtle external distinctions for characterising genera and species. But 

 their very subtility is an argument for enquiring as far as possible in- 

 to their true value ; and it remains yet to be shewn, that there are 

 not, at least in many cases, as subtle distinctions to be found inter- 

 nally, with which the former are associated, and which, being known, 

 tend to raise their importance. It is, then, on these grounds that we 

 rejoice to see so much endeavour at the present day to elucidate the 

 internal organization of animals. Much has been done in this respect 

 by the Zoological Society, which affords to naturalists the double ad- 

 vantage of studying the habits of those animals which it possesses 

 while living, and of investigating their anatomical structure when 

 dead. We need only refer to the Proceedings and Transactions of 

 that scientific body, to see the advance which has been made of late 

 years in this very important department of Zoology. 



But there are other grounds upon which we may take up this ar- 

 gument. Comparative Anatomy is of service to the Zoologist, not 

 merely for helping him to the true value of external characters, but 

 in some cases for determining the actual nature of those external or- 

 gans from which these characters are derived. As an instance in point 

 we may refer to a remark lately made by Professor Agassiz respect- 

 ing the supposed affinity of the Cyprinidce to the Siluridce. It 

 would seem, says he, that " from the bearded Carps to the bearded 

 Siluri there was a natural transition by means of the bearded Loaches; 

 but it is important to distinguish that in these latter, as well as 

 in the Carps and other Cyprinidce, the beards, as they are called, 

 are merely processes of the skin ; while in the Siluri, the cirri of the 

 angles of the mouth are actually prolongations of the maxillary bones 

 becoming gradually cartilaginous and tapering into thread-like extre- 

 mities." * This appears, then, to be a case, in which naturalists had 

 supposed two external organs to be of a similar nature, which, upon 

 dissection, prove different. We do not assert that the affinity be- 

 tween these tribes has been grounded solely upon the presence of such 

 organs : we simply inquire, whether our views are not necessarily a 



• Proceed, of Zool. Soc. 1835, p. 150. 



