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matter which has in the first instance engaged the attention of our most honoured predecessor Georg
Ruge — we have only touched upon this side of the subject.
In the next paragraph we have treated of the facial muscles of the Elephant, which we have gone
through in a detailed manner on the basis laid down in the foregoing paragraph. Of special interest may
perhaps be our treatment of the muscles of the proboscis, in which is demonstrated, that the singular
muscles of this organ may all be derived from muscles present in other Mammals; also the details of
structure and arrangement of some of these muscles may possibly lay claim to some interest, being rather
unique of their kind. — The results of the study, which, of course, in connection with our examination
of the facial muscles, we have made of the nervus facialis in the Elephant and other Mammals, we intend
to publish in the next part of this work, in which we shall also discuss the significance of the nervous
system for the comparative study of the muscular system.
In a third paragraph the relation of the proboscides to the snout of ordinary Mammals is discussed.
It is here pointed out, in what way they are derived from the latter. Furthermore it is made out, that
the proboscis of the Elephant and of the Tapir occupy a separate place among the proboscides, which in
most Mammals are principally tactile organs, while in the said two forms they are prehensile organs, to
which difference in function also corresponds a substantial difference in structure.
The external form, under which our work appears, has essentially been determined by the subject.
It was for a presentation of the facial muscles of an animal of the size of the Elephant of a certain
importance to have the size of the plates larger than usual. That we have chosen to have the figures in
colours certainly need no apology; the understanding of the object in this way will greatly be facilitated.
Upon the whole we have taken great pains to bring the subject within easy reach of our readers.
The drawings have been made under our direction by the well-known excellent draughtsman Mr. C.
Cordts, to whom, for his part of the work, we are greatly indebted.
As to the language we have had the privilege of having the text supervised by two English colleagues,
Dr. Forsyth Major and Mr. W. P. Pycraft, to which gentlemen we express our best thanks, as also to
Mr. Jas. Gilchrist, who has had the goodnes to read over the proof-sheets.
The publication of this work in the present form would not have been possible without the existence
of the Carlsberg-Fund, to whose administrators we express our sincere thanks for the liberal grant they have
voted to our work.
As to the continuation of our work: To the account of the facial muscles we join in the second part
— which is already rather advanced — a treatment of the facial nerve of the Elephant and of some other
Mammals. In the same part we intend to deal with the ear-cartilage of Mammals, on which subject one
of us has already published a preliminary notice. In further parts we hope to treat of other points of
the anatomv of the head.
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