REMARKS ON THE FIGURES OF PLATE XXVIII. 3 
condition of fig. A, and the plus condition of fig. B, than 
what we offer in the following mode, viz., that the process 
of degradation or subtraction from a plus uniform series 
of uninterrupted thoracic quantities, has not taken place to 
the same degree for the creation of fig. B as it has done 
for fig. A, and that therefore it happens that the serial quan- 
tities of fig. B are in excess, whereas those of fig. A are in 
defect ; from which facts it must also follow that fig. B is 
a nearer approach to the original or prime model of serial 
uniformity by the very creation of cervical and lumbar 
ribs, than fig. A, where these “ anomalies” have been 
_altogether subtracted. And, therefore, we repeat in refer- 
ence to the difference ** which distinguishes fig. A from 
fig. B, that “veré scire, esse per causas scire.” And if we 
remark that to know truly the origin of cervical and lum- 
bar ribs is to understand that they are parts proper to the 
archetype or whole + skeleton quantity which we are pro- 
ceeding in search of, we do so only under the license of a 
mode of comparison which we have sought for in vain 
through all the store of the British Museum Library, or 
that of the Bibliothéque du Roi. If their interpretation 
be not here, it certainly is not to be found there, and if 
it will be said that it matters little to “the practical ” 
whether it may not be found either here or there, we shall 
not, at present, engage to move a contrary opinion, even 
though the Beeotian or the Osiris priest, dictating the 
recantation to the astronomer of Pisa, could scarcely find, 
upon the scale of mens, a more chilling zero whereat to 
limit inquiry,t than what this pursuit of the practical 
ordinarily realises. 
* “Date autem Nature formam, sive differentiam veram, sive naturam naturantem, sive fontem emanationis, (ista enim vocabula habemus, 
que ad indicationem rei proxime accedunt,) invenire, opus et intentio est humane scientie.—Bacon, Novum Organum Scientiarum, Aph. 1, lib.ii. 
+ “Tis the sublime of man, 
Our noontide majesty, to know ourselves 
Parts and proportions of a wondrous whole ! 
This fraternises man.”—Colerzdge. 
£ “ Homo, nature minister et interpres, tantum facit et intelligit, quantum, de nature ordine, re vel mente observayerit ; nec amplius scit, 
aut potest..—Bacon, ovum Organum Scientiarum, Aph. 1, lib. i. 
