PREFACE 



The genesis of these studies was the following : — 



Having completed the Flora of the Assyrian Monuments and its 

 Outcomes, I was looking about for something to take up next as a 

 subject of study. In the furriers' windows I was attracted by the 

 Leopard and Tiger skins, which by degrees became objects of 

 interesting study and speculation. 



Thinking over the rosettes of the Leopards, and more especially 

 those of the Jaguar, and seeing spotted Horses constantly in the 

 streets of London, some new ideas flashed across my mind 

 regarding the origin of all this spotting and resetting in 

 mammals. 



Keeping ' my eyes open,' so as to get some insight into the 

 invisible, and making many researches for some tangible facts 

 which would serve as a basis for my speculations, the subjects 

 of the curious callosities on the legs of the Horse, its solitary big 

 digit, its possible close relationship to the pair of digits in 

 the ruminants, and various monstrosities, came under review, as 

 well as several other collateral points, and so, each group, as it 

 became interesting, was worked up into a separate study, followed 

 up by that on the meaning of the rosettes on the Jaguar and allied 

 animals, and of the dapples which are all but universal in Horses 



