THE EARLY DAYS OF COMPARATIVE ANATOMY. 165 



1687, the text translated by Alexander Pitfeild and the 

 plates re-engraved by Richard Waller, whose engraved 

 title was plagiarised in Valentini's Amphitheatrum 

 Zootomicum in 1720. Unhappily the English plates are 

 little better than caricatures of the finished engravings of 

 Sebastien Le Clerc, but we must not forget that they 

 represent the maiden efforts of the engraver. An 

 imperfect French edition, together with Father Gouye's 

 independent observations, appeared in 1688. Then 

 follow numerous issues, some of them incomplete, in 

 English, French, Dutch and German down to 1758, when 

 the work ceased to be printed after a life of almost a 

 century. As an illustration of the fatigues and surprises 

 of this bibliographic chase, I have in my own library an 

 English edition dated 1701, of which no other copy can 

 be traced — a circumstance which combines features of 

 satisfaction and despair. 



In the just applause of their own discretion the 

 Parisians happily disclose their methods of work. The 

 dissections were carried out, not by any individual, but 

 in session of the whole company, and nothing was com- 

 mitted to paper which failed to command the ready 

 assent of all present. They say: " That which is most 

 considerable in our Memoires is that unblemishable 

 evidence of a certain and acknowledged Verity. For 

 they are not the work of one private person, who 

 may suffer himself to be prevail' d upon by his own 

 opinion "...." This so precise exactness in relating 

 all the particulars which we observe, is qualified with a 

 like care to draw well the figures, as well of the entire 

 animals, as of their external parts, and of all those 

 which are inwardly concealed. These parts having been 

 considered, and examined with eyes assisted with 

 Microscopes, when need required, were instantly designed 



