The Treatise on the Organization and Classification of Trilobites, by ProfessorBurmeister, now presented to the members of the Ray Society, is not merely a translationof the original German edition published at Berlin in 1843, but a new edition, revised,augmented, and in part rewritten by the distinguished Author himself, who has mostkindly endeavoured to render the Ray version as complete as possible by embodying allthe information which had accumulated since the publication of the German edition.Through the aid of Professor Burmeister the Society has been enabled to procure impressionsfrom the original and very beautiful plates. These have also been revised by the Author,and several important figures added.
The translation has been executed, under the superintendence of the Editors, byDr. Hermann Mix. In the revision of the first section of the work, they have been kindlyassisted by Professor Ansted.
The translation, especially of the systematic part, is nearly a literal one; such being,in the opinion of the Editors, most likely to convey the sense of the Author, althoughelegance of expression may occasionally have thereby been sacrificed. They have carefullyabstained from altering any expression of the Author’s meaning, and even where theymight dissent from his views, have preferred silence to the intrusion of their own opinions.The notes they have added are all of an explanatory or supplementary nature, and especiallysuch as may prove useful to the English reader.
The Editors feel that they need not dwell on the great importance of the volumewhich has been committed to their charge. As a dissertation on a most difficult tribeof fossil Articulata by an eminent Zoologist, deeply versed in the organization of the greatclass to which it belongs, the work assumes an importance which can rarely be accordedto palaeontological essays treating of the remains of Invertebrate Animals .
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