This Catalogue records the Osteological Specimens in the possession of the University. I have also included in it some Birds and Mammals stuffed, and some Fishes and Reptiles in spirit, because I think that it may frequently be advantageous to students, for whom this collection is chiefly designed, to have an opportunity of comparing the external characters of any groups in which they may be interested with the osteological. This is a plan which has been followed with success in several Continental Museums, especially in that of the University of Pavia.

As the value of such a collection as this depends in a great measure on the accuracy with which the specimens are named, I have never appended a specific name without due authority for it, and have preferred, in doubtful cases, to append the generic name alone. Whenever I found a difficulty in determining a specimen from descriptions, I took it to the British Museum, for comparison with a series of great extent and of different ages. I take this opportunity of thanking Professor Owen and Mr Gerrard for their great kindness in devoting many hours of their valuable time to the identification of the specimens shown to them.