PAST AND PRESENT. By R. LYDEKKER, B.A. (CANTAB.) LONGMANS, GREEN, AND CO. AND NEW YORK: 15 EAST 16th STREET. 1892. All rights reserved. PREFACE.. DL50 67 Paleo wib: H SCIENCES LIBRARY THE following Essays are, by the kind permission of the Editor, reproduced from KNOWLEDGE, with some emendations, and a few additional illustrations. They are intended to illustrate in a popular manner a few of the various modes in which animals-especially vertebrates-are adapted to similar conditions of existence; and also to demonstrate some of the more remarkable types of structure obtaining among the higher vertebrates. It will be found that while some of the Essays form a continuous series, others are totally unconnected with those to which they stand in juxtaposition. While living forms are by no means neglected, especial attention is concentrated on the less known, strange, and often gigantic creatures which have now passed away for ever, and are revealed to us-it may be but obscurely-only by their dry bones. The series has, the author flatters himself, met with a favourable reception in its original form; and he trusts that it may obtain at least equal approval in its present guise. M335889 |