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We cannot catechise our stony ichthyolites, as did the necromantic lady of the Arabian Nights did the coloured fishes of the lake which had once been a city, when she touched their dead bodies with her wand, and they straightaway raised their heads and rephed to her queries. We would have many a question to ask them if we could - questions never to be solved. Hugh Miller, The Old Red Sandstone When I started this book in 1991, the subject of vertebrate origins was fusty and unfashionable. Early drafts for this preface read like an extend­ ed complaint at the lot of traditional morphologists, cast aside by the march of modern molecular biology. But no longer - this book should reach you at a time of renewed inter­ est in the origin of the vertebrates, our own particular corner of creation. For although the topic has excited interest for well over a century, molec­ ular biology has only lately achieved the maturity necessary to test its predictions. As a legitimate field of study, it is fashionable again.

Vertebrates --- Mammals --- Vertébrés --- Mammifères --- Evolution. --- Evolution --- Biological Evolution. --- Vertebrates. --- Anatomy, Comparative. --- Chordata, Nonvertebrate. --- Echinodermata. --- 596 --- 575.8 --- Echinodermatas --- Invertebrate Chordate --- Chordatas, Nonvertebrate --- Chordate, Invertebrate --- Chordates, Invertebrate --- Invertebrate Chordates --- Nonvertebrate Chordata --- Nonvertebrate Chordatas --- Comparative Anatomy --- Anatomies, Comparative --- Comparative Anatomies --- Vertebrate --- Evolution, Biological --- Sociobiology --- Vertebrata. Vertebrates in general --- Evolution. Origin of species. Phylogeny --- Biological Evolution --- Evolution (Biology). --- Life sciences. --- Mammals - Evolution. --- Paleontology. --- Vertebrates - Evolution. --- Zoology. --- Biological Processes --- Anatomy --- Invertebrates --- Chordata --- Genetic Processes --- Animals --- Biological Science Disciplines --- Biological Phenomena --- Genetic Phenomena --- Eukaryota --- Phenomena and Processes --- Natural Science Disciplines --- Organisms --- Disciplines and Occupations --- Chordata, Nonvertebrate --- Anatomy, Comparative --- Echinodermata --- Zoology --- Health & Biological Sciences --- 575.8 Evolution. Origin of species. Phylogeny --- 596 Vertebrata. Vertebrates in general --- Evolutionary biology. --- Life Sciences. --- Evolutionary Biology. --- Paleontology .