40 SPECIAL SENSES. 



extent, of the form and consistence of a body, as for exam- 

 ple, whether it be sharp or blunt, soft or hard. 



118. This faculty resides more especially in the hand, 

 which is not only endowed with a more delicate tact, but 

 owing to the disposition of the fingers and the opposition of 

 the thumb to the other fingers, is capable of so moulding 

 itself around objects, as to multiply the points of contact. 

 Hence touch is an attribute of man rather than of other 

 animals ; for among these latter, scarcely any, except the 

 monkeys, have the faculty of touch in their hands, or as it 

 is technically termed, of palpation. 



119. In some animals, this faculty is exercised by other 

 organs. Thus the trunk of the elephant is a most perfect 

 organ of touch ; and probably the mastodon, whose nume- 

 rous relics are found scattered in the superficial layers of 

 the earth's crust, was furnished with a similar organ. 

 Serpents make use of their tongue for touch ; insects 

 employ their palpi, and snails their tentacles for the same 

 purpose. 



6. The Voice. 



120. Animals have not only the power of perceiving, 

 but many of them have also the faculty of producing 

 sounds of every variety, from the roaring of the lion to the 

 song of the bird as it salutes the rising sun. It is moreover 

 to be remarked that those which are endowed with a voice, 

 are precisely those in whom the organ of hearing is most 

 developed. 



121. Animals employ their voice, either for communica- 

 tion with each other, or to express their sensations, their en- 

 joyments, their sufferings. Nevertheless, this faculty is en- 

 joyed by but a small minority of animals ; with but very 

 few exceptions, only the mammals, the birds, and a few 

 reptiles are endowed with it. All others are dumb. 



