Page:The Last link.djvu/111

Rh in his 'Untersuchungen zur vergleichenden Anatomie der Wirbelthiere,' 1864-65-72.

In 1883 he brought out a text-book on human anatomy. This also marked a new epoch, because for the first time, not only the nomenclature, but also the general treatment of human anatomy, was put upon a firm comparative anatomical basis. The success of this work is indicated by the fact that it reached the sixth edition in 1897.

Lastly, in 1898, appeared the first volume of what may be called his crowning work, 'Vergleichende Anatomie der Wirbelthiere.'

Gegenbaur is universally recognised, not only as the greatest living comparative anatomist, but also as the founder of the modern side of this science, by having based it on the theory of descent.

In 1896 he received from the Royal Society the Copley medal 'for his pre-eminence in the science of comparative anatomy or animal morphology.'

His marvellously powerful influence as a