PREFA CE. 
7 
them on a reduced scale in a more popular and accessible 
manner. 
These plates demonstrate certain facts which occur, in 
regular sequence, with uniform intervals of time, during 
the accomplishment of some act of motion, thus enabling 
the phases which characterize the transition from one 
period of a movement to another period to be leisurely 
studied. They are chemically executed engravings, and 
are reproduced with all the original defects of photographic 
manipulation, precisely as they were made in the camera. 
A few plates of the Palo Alto investigation of 1872-79 
are also included. 
It is the hope of the author that the selection of 
subjects has been judiciously made, and that the artist will 
make discreet use of them. Should certain phases of the 
movements be considered of sufficient naturally artistic 
value to permit their being copied without derogation to 
artistic effect, it is unnecessary to say it is not for that 
purpose they are published; their mission is simply 
to furnish a guide to the laws which control animal 
movements, and to show how those movements are 
effected. 
When the student has carefully noted the consecutive 
phases of some act of progressive motion, he will do 
wisely to put the book on one side and to seek his im¬ 
pression of that motion from the animal itself. 
By this process of study he will unquestionably 
recognize the differences between his own educated 
impression of any of the analyzed gaits—especially those 
of the walk and of the gallop—and the interpretation 
given to them by one whose judgment is founded on 
tradition or unassisted observation ; and he will be con¬ 
vinced that the concrete facts of animal locomotion can 
be ideally reproduced without offence to the canons of 
Art or sacrifice of the truth of Nature. 
E. M. 
Ki ngston-on-T hames. 
December , 1898 . 
