10 
lost no opportunity which presented itself, of inciting those around us, and more 
especially the younger members of the medical profession, to the prosecution of a 
path of inquiry from which we have, ourselves, derived such pure and delightful 
recreation,—so many and such solid advantages. In this spirit, we, nine years ago, 
contemplated a translation, from the German, of the last edition of Blumenbach’s 
celebrated Manual of Comparative Anatomy. Subsequently to 1807, when Mr. 
Lawrence’s masterly translation of that work was first published, Zootomy had 
made a rapid stride in this country, and, more particularly, on the continent; and 
one or two other editions of Blumenbach’s Manual had seen the light. On re¬ 
ceiving information, however, from Mr. Coulson, that he was actually engaged 
upon the work, we, without hesitation, abandoned the project. His translation, 
or rather revised edition of Mr. Lawrence’s translation, soon afterwards appeared; 
but we candidly avow that the work, in its style of execution, falls very far short 
of the expectations which, from our knowledge of the talents, industry, and attain¬ 
ments of Mr. Coulson, we had been led to indulge. Several inaccuracies which 
had escaped the vigilant eye of Mr. Lawrence, have been suffered to pass without 
correction. Various errors, of which that distinguished writer never could have 
been guilty, disfigure the interpolations of Mr. Coulson ; and divers passages, in¬ 
troduced by the German Professor into the last edition, have been doomed to inex¬ 
plicable neglect. Still worse, the notes of Blumenbach and Lawrence have been 
frequently incorporated, by the sub-translator, with the original text: and the bulk 
of the volume has been needlessly swelled by the introduction of matter frequently 
uninteresting, and sometimes destitute of any very obvious connection with the 
subject. Under these circumstances, we may, perchance, render an acceptable 
service to the readers of The Naturalist , by presenting a close and nearly literal 
translation, without regard to elegancies of style, of certain portions of the pure 
text of the last edition of Blumenbach’s Manual; and concisely adding, in notes, 
such new facts and illustrations as our own reading and observation may enable 
us to supply. For the benefit of the student of German, we shall add, in paren¬ 
theses, the German synonyms of such of the various scientific and especially 
anatomical terms, as cannot be found in the ordinary dictionaries of the language. 
The French and Latin synonyms, when new or peculiar, will also be introduced. 
The Manual of Blumenbach, it will be seen, is destined merely to communicate 
elementary knowledge: and, on this account, we have selected it as far better 
adapted for the purpose of conveying popular instruction, than the more elaborate, 
profound, and comprehensive productions of the later German and the French 
zootomists. A very correct general acquaintance with the anatomy of animals 
may, however, be acquired from an attentive and re-iterated perusal of Blumen¬ 
bach’s work ; especially if the student be careful to impress upon his memory the 
leading facts of the German writer, and to verify his descriptions by frequent 
examination of, and their comparison with, such specimens of the animal structure 
