"Contains, substantially, the lectures ... delivered, in the spring of 1863, at the Royal college of surgeons of England ..." Known primarily as the protagonist of evolution in the controversies immediately following the publication of Darwin's On the Origin of Species late in 1859, zoologist Huxley studied and wrote on a wide range of subjects, including education, philosophy, evolution and religion. "In 1863 he delivered a course of lectures at the College of Surgeons 'On the Classification of Animals, ' and another 'On the Vertebrate Skull'. The scrupulous care with which he endeavored to verify by actual observation every statement made in his lectures rendered the labor of preparation very great. Sir William Flower describes the way in which he would spend long evenings at the College of Surgeons, dissecting animals available among the stores, or making rapid notes and drawings, after a day's work in Jermyn Street. The consequences were twofold; the vivid impression of his own recent experience was communicated to his hearers, and the work of preparation became at once an incentive to further research and a means of pursuing it" (DNB).

This book provides a comprehensive look at the principles of comparative anatomy. It covers the major systems of the human body and compares these to similar structures in animals. This book is an excellent resource for students and anyone interested in a deeper understanding of the anatomy of different species. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.